It’s the global campaign everyone is talking about. Fresh from its successes in 2022 and 2024, #ForOurPlanet is back for a third season starting on April 22 with a brand new focus on circular economy: beyond recycling.
Running through to European Green Week 3-4 June, the campaign calls on ‘all interested organisations’ — including UN agencies, embassies, ministries, non-profits and companies — to take action for our planet.
The organisers of the 2025 #ForOurPlanet campaign promise taking action has never been easier. From cooking with leftovers to composting coffee grounds, from pop-up libraries to local repair cafes, there are dozens of ways that families, communities and businesses can get involved.
For inspiration, look no further than LIFE Turn to e-circular, a 5-year €2.2 million project which closed last year. With its slogan ‘I’m still useful’ LIFE Turn to e-circular set itself a big challenge: to persuade consumers — especially families and young people — to cut down on the mountains of WEEE (waste electric and electronic equipment) dumped in the EU each year.
Among other initiatives, the project set up 60 ‘reuse corners’ across Slovenia where people could take small electrical items for repair by experts. The team also toured the country in a mobile repair van giving new life to worn-out appliances, and set up a Facebook group to exchange opinions and share tips and guidelines for servicing.
‘Computers, mobile phones, consumer electronics and small white goods were the most popular items for repair, but most of the items brought in were less than 5 years old.’ says Emil Šehić, Director of ZEOS, the Slovenian non-profit which ran the project. ‘A circular economy must go beyond simple reuse. We have to ask ourselves about why we buy things, about servicing and sharing. Products must be made to be useful for as long as possible.’
Also featuring in this year’s #ForOurPlanet campaign is C-MARTLife, a 7-year LIFE project to reduce, recycle and reuse plastic waste in the Flanders region of Belgium. Already the team have cut marine plastic litter by 75% and expect to see completely litter-free beaches by 2027. ‘Today’s waste products are tomorrow’s raw materials,’ says project coordinator Els Herremans. ‘We’re training circular ambassadors to spread the word — education and awareness among leaders and communities drives change!’
#ForOurPlanet launches today, on Earth Day, April 22. For updates on activities in your area or ideas about how to get involved, visit the campaign website or email EU-FOR-OUR-PLANETec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EU-FOR-OUR-PLANET[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).
