Background and objectives
Waste management remains an important challenge for local Italian authorities and private sector organizations are key partners in an effort to minimize the impact of waste. The mass retailers can make a significant contribution to the reduction of waste as they have a strong purchasing power and can thus influence, for example, the packaging policies, can help raise environmental awareness among consumers and thus reduce waste production. Main objectives of the project are the realization of waste prevention and reduction plan together with the mass retailers and the planning of a “re-use center” to retrieve unsold or reusable materials.

Major european policies focused
The Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste proposes the necessity of a hierarchy of waste management cycle (prevention – preparation for re-use – recycling – other recovery, for example, energy recovery – disposal) and an approach that takes into account the entire life cycle of products and materials, strengthening the economic value of waste.

Main actions
– Mapping the best experiences of waste reduction in mass retailers already developed at national level.
– Developing a waste reduction plan, to be tested with the local mass retailers in the Municipalities of Reggio Emilia and Trento.
– Implementing a feasibility study for the creation of a “re-use center” which allows the recovery of non-food unsold items.

Expected results
– Adopting and implementing new waste reduction plans in Reggio Emilia and Trento.
– Implementing a feasibility study and a market analysis on the establishment of a “re-use center”.
– Drafting a guide of best practices to help operators to minimize waste flows.
– Creating a more eco-friendly production and more sustainable consumption practices.