2015 “Social and Environmental Justice” Twinner

Zero Waste France, France

Zero Waste France is an environmental NGO focused mainly on household waste reduction. And also  a member of GAIA and Zero Waste Europe. They provide access to independent information and analyze, explain and throw light on environmental issues and health risks connected to waste management. Zero Waste France advocates for more ambitious regulation in all fields related to resources and waste management. As a member of the national council for waste issues, they are directly involved in policy-making discussion. They are particularly active on recycle policy and on reuse and consignation practices. They now also work directly with local governments interested in adopting a Zero Waste strategy,  providing them with training and knowledge

Topic of Exchange: Comparison of different systems of waste management and waste policies

The exchange will focus on the comparison of different systems of waste management and waste policies. This comparison will enable both organization to promote better solutions at the local or national levels and help them strengthen or renovate public awareness campaigns. Since they both are working with local communities, the exchange could also lead to further cooperation related to “on the ground” projects

Marine Conservation Society, United Kingdom

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the only charity in the UK working exclusively to protect our seas and marine life. MCS campaigns for clean seas and beaches, sustainable fisheries, protection of marine life, and sensitive use of marine resources. MCS has an excellent reputation for promoting solutions to the many threats that face our seas by informing, involving and influencing those that have a responsibility for the marine environment. They also provide NGO representation at the EU level for a number of issues including fisheries, bathing waters and marine litter.

Topic of Exchange: Marine debris management

The Marine Conservation Society, UK and the Shanghai Rendu Ocean NPO Development Center will exchange knowledge on how to manage marine debris effectively, with a focus on plastics from land based sources. With China currently being the biggest contributor to marine plastic in the oceans and a lot of UK waste being sent to China they want to obtain a better understanding of the challenges that NGOs in China and the UK are facing.

Zero Waste Italy, Italy

Zero Waste Italy (ZWI) was founded in May 2009. Its main goal is to promote a Zero Waste strategy aiming to improve sustainability on a social, economic and environmental level by providing support to all communities and groups of activists attracted to the concept of Zero Waste. ZWI is collaborating with Zero Waste Europe and Zero Waste International and is therefore familiar with transnational challenges and successes in the struggle for waste reduction.

Topic of Exchange: Waste reduction practices

FON and ZWI will exchange knowledge on technologies and practices related to the management of waste and local resources such as composting, electrical recycling and other methods of reuse, attempting to improve and develop their experiences and expertise on the creation of sustainable systems of living, consuming and producing.

Foodwaste.ch, Switzerland

Foodwaste.ch and its affiliated organizations aim at reducing waste, working along the principles of the waste hierarchy (reduce, reuse, recycle). They target private households as well as the home food industry and packaging waste of foodstuffs. The organizations regularly organize events and campaigns around the prevention and reduction of food waste. Besides, they provide consulting services and advise the Swiss government in designing food waste reduction projects and measures.

Topic of exchange: Food waste/food banks

The wastage of food is a great challenge for both China and Switzerland. While alone in Shanghai 1,200 tons of food are destroyed every day, around 2,3 million tons are thrown away in Switzerland every year. Littering food is not only a waste of resources but bears many ethical questions, given that almost a billion people in China and Europe suffer from under- or malnourishment. Foodwaste.ch and Shanghai Green Oasis want to compare and understand the challenges in their exchange country and work on a strategy on how to sustainably reduce waste.

Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V., Germany

The Deutsche Umwelthilfe e.V. (DUH), founded 1975, is an independent non-profit association which focuses on protecting nature, environment and consumer rights. Activities of the DUH include coordination, public relations and campaigning as well as consultancy of policy makers on national and European level. Since 2009, DUH´s traffic department has been coordinating the Pan-European Campaign “Soot Free for the Climate” consisting of 13 European NGOs and since 2012 it is part of the EU Life Project “Clean Air” where it is working on legal opportunities to fight for the right of clean air.

Topic of exchange: Air pollution

Air pollution is not only a serious issue in China but has an impact on the health of European citizens living in cities as well. It is essential for stakeholders to get together and discuss strategies to solve air quality problems. The DUH and TL want to make a first step by sharing their first-hand experiences, successes and their strategies to meet challenges in reducing air pollution best

Forumul Cetatenesc pentru Actiune Sociala si Educatie Civica, Romania

Forumul Cetatenesc pentru Actiune Sociala si Educatie Civica (FCASEC) was established in 2003 and is a social, non-political and non-profit organization acting at both regional and, as partner of youth organizations throughout Europe, South America, Africa and Asia at international level. In the past four years, FCASEC has implemented six voluntary projects financed by the European Commission. Its main concerns are environment protection, environmental education and social inclusion, in particular of socially disadvantaged children.

Topic of exchange: Social inclusion through environmental activities

The discrimination of the Roma who are widely considered unable to integrate into Romanian society is a huge problem in Romania. Especially children suffer from unequal chances of access at school or when entering work life. Similarly, a large number of children whose parents are migrant workers do not enjoy the same opportunities as their peers with urban hukou in Chinese cities. FCASEC and the Evergreen Center therefore will exchange on ideas and methods on how to integrate socially disadvantaged young people into society through environmental projects.

A tip: tap e.V., Germany

A tip: tap e.V. is based in Berlin, Germany. Since 2010 the interdisciplinary team has promoted sustainable (tap) water consumption as they see it as healthy, delicious, cheaper, up to 1000 times more environmentally-friendly and one of the best-controlled foodstuffs in Germany and France. The faucet fans have initiated a range of projects: It promotes public fountains, organizes campaigns to improve the image of tap water, water mobs, workshops and degustation tests, attends fairs, consults and awards gastronomy services, companies or any other interested party who desires to switch from bottled to tap water consumption in reusable cups. The association has recently started its work in France in 2015 and expands its repertoire by the creation of scenes using the participatory drama form theatre forum