Advancing a job‑rich and inclusive circular Europe: RREUSE adopts its 2026–2030 strategy

On 23 April 2026, our General Assembly adopted the RREUSE Strategy 2026–2030: Advancing a job-rich and inclusive circular Europe. This strategy sets out how we, together with our members and partners, will work to ensure that Europe’s circular transition delivers both environmental and social benefits.

The years 2026–2030 will be decisive for Europe. How we respond to climate urgency, resource scarcity, geopolitical tensions, rapid technological change and rising inequalities will shape not only how resources are used, but also how opportunities are shared. For us at RREUSE, this period is a unique opportunity to help build an economy that is sustainable, inclusive and resilient.

Every day, the 1,300 social enterprises we represent show that this is possible in practice. By extending product lifetimes, reducing waste and the need for virgin materials, creating green jobs and providing training and social integration pathways, they demonstrate that circularity can fight material poverty and make essential goods more accessible. For 25 years, RREUSE has championed this integrated approach.

Our new strategy builds on this legacy and strengthens our role as a community builder, knowledge hub and policy influencer for the social circular economy. It is driven by a simple conviction: the circular economy must not become a narrow efficiency agenda. It has to be a transformative societal project that combines environmental ambition, social justice and economic resilience.

By 2030, we envision a Europe where circular social enterprises are recognised as key economic actors; where reuse and repair are embedded in policy, markets and consumer behaviour; where social inclusion is a defining feature of circularity; and where strong ecosystems, innovation and collaboration support this work in all regions and drive continuous improvement.

To achieve this, we will focus on three interconnected pillars:

• Community – We will deepen engagement with our members and strengthen our shared identity as a vibrant, cohesive network. RREUSE is more than a representative body; it is a platform where social enterprises meet, align strategies and shape common positions.
• Academy – We will invest in training, peer learning, practical tools and research to help our members grow, innovate and demonstrate their impact. The Academy will also help us share knowledge with external stakeholders and support evidence-based policymaking on the social circular economy.
• Outreach – We will continue to advocate for policies that reflect the realities and potential of social enterprises, while raising the visibility of our members’ work and supporting the development of stronger ecosystems across Europe.

These three pillars reinforce one another. Insights from our community feed into the Academy’s learning and research, which in turn strengthen our advocacy and communications. Our Outreach work then creates new opportunities for our community and helps mobilise resources for the sector.

To deliver this strategy, we are also investing in our own resilience as a network: maintaining transparent and participatory governance, diversifying funding, improving our digital infrastructure and collaborating with allied European networks.

With this strategy, RREUSE is renewing its commitment to a circular economy that works for people and the planet. We know that social enterprises in reuse, repair and recycling offer a concrete pathway forward – creating jobs, strengthening communities and reducing inequalities while protecting the environment.

We invite social circular enterprises and their networks, policymakers, partners and funders to engage with our RREUSE Strategy 2026–2030 and to join us in building a job-rich and inclusive Europe.