ETC CE Report 2026/6 Measuring and enabling reuse: methods and policy insights

12 May 2026

Jurate Miliute-Plepiene, Maja Dahlbom, Dirk Nelen, Elisabeth Pernmyr, Tom Duhoux

Reuse is a central pillar of the EU’s circular economy and waste prevention agenda, offering significant environmental and socio-economic benefits, including reduced material demand, climate mitigation, job creation, and social inclusion strengthening community resilience. Since 2023, EU Member States, along with Norway and Iceland, have been required to report data on reuse activities and related policy measures under Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/19. However, findings from the first reporting cycle and a 2025 ETC/EEA survey indicate substantial challenges in both quantitative data collection and the evaluation of policy effectiveness. 

This report supports future reporting rounds by reviewing good practices in data collection, analysing reported policy measures, and proposing improvements to monitoring and evaluation frameworks. It finds that countries primarily rely on household surveys and operator-based data, each with distinct strengths and limitations. Key challenges include recall bias, incomplete coverage, difficulties in scaling data, and significant uncertainties related to conversion factors. As a result, cross-country comparability remains limited due to differing interpretations of definitions, scope, and methodologies. 

The analysis of policy measures indicates that most measures are voluntary and information-based, with limited use of regulatory or economic instruments. Weak monitoring frameworks, including the absence of clear targets and harmonised indicators, hinder the assessment of policy effectiveness. The report highlights the need for improved guidance, standardised methodologies, and robust target–indicator–monitoring systems to enable consistent reporting and evidence-based policymaking, thereby strengthening the role of reuse in achieving circular economy objectives.