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The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Zero waste: turning vision into action
Zero Waste Foundation is a Business Reporter client In a world increasingly choked by waste, the international Forum on Zero Waste Living, to be held in Istanbul from 17 to 19 October 2025, marks a pivotal moment in global efforts to curb waste at its source. Organised by the Zero Waste Foundation, which was established in Turkey in 2023, this landmark event brings together leaders, activists, innovators and communities under the unifying theme of 'Zero Waste in Action: People. Places. Progress.' The forum is urgently needed. The world currently generates over 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste each year – a figure projected to rise to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, unless immediate action is taken. Waste pollution not only threatens ecosystems and human health but also exacerbates the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Beyond waste management: a cultural shift Unlike traditional conferences on waste management, which often focus on recycling and disposal technologies, the Zero Waste Forum aims to tackle the consumption patterns and lifestyles that generate waste in the first place. It is a forum for the 'doers' – city leaders, grassroots innovators, researchers, private sector pioneers and policy makers – who are shaping real-world solutions. 'This is not just another gathering,' says Samed Agirbas, President of the Zero Waste Foundation. 'It's a space for those who refuse to accept inaction as an option.' Agirbas, an Istanbul native, brings a personal and professional passion to the initiative. A former advisor to UN-Habitat and an architect and urban planner by training, his journey to environmental leadership began in youth activism. 'Coming from a working-class background, I know first-hand why it is important to live within your means – and more importantly, how to do it,' he explains. His vision for zero waste living is shaped by professional expertise, as well as by his personal experience. To Agirbas, zero waste living is more than a strategy – it represents a cultural and behavioural shift. 'It redefines our relationship with materials, consumption and the environment,' he says. 'It calls for individuals, households, and entire communities to adopt lifestyles that reduce waste at its source.' Practical outcomes from a living laboratory The forum will serve as a living laboratory – not just discussing ideas but sharing practical insights into how different human activities can reduce waste generation. Participants will explore practical solutions such as how to translate zero waste policies into action at the local level and how to mobilise finance for inclusive, community-driven initiatives. To support these aims, the forum's organisers are committed to managing the event's own waste footprint, using it as an opportunity to showcase practical approaches to waste minimisation. During the event, there will be opportunities to build partnerships across sectors and geographies. Scale-up innovations, especially from the global south, will be on show. And there will be exhibitions, interactive workshops and co-design sessions involving representatives from civil society, startups, municipal governments, NGOs and international agencies. The event will be streamed online so that people from around the world can participate. In this way, the forum will serve as a global platform to translate zero waste policies into concrete local actions and promote practical solutions that reflect the realities of both high-income and resource-constrained settings. Celebrating progress One of the forum's highlights will be the presentation of the inaugural Zero Waste International Awards, recognising outstanding contributions to zero waste living. The awards are designed to celebrate successful zero waste practices worldwide, and to honour leadership and innovation. This is timely as zero waste has been identified as a key thematic area by the President of the UN-Habitat Assembly in Nairobi last month. Three core awards will be presented: innovative Ideas that promote zero waste living; projects that have demonstrated zero waste impact over at least 24 months; and sustainable practices that have been maintained over a decade or more. Special citations will be given in recognition of individuals who have contributed exceptionally to the field. And there will also be a special category that reflects the annual theme of International Zero Waste Day. 'The Awards are not just about recognition,' says Agirbas. 'They're about setting a global benchmark for what's possible when we align innovation, tradition and social justice in pursuit of a better future.' Building lasting impact The forum will affirm zero waste living as a critical pathway to environmental and social resilience. Priority areas for multilateral collaboration will be identified: these will include policy reform, financing mechanisms and knowledge exchange. International partnerships will be strengthened. Practical solutions will be developed and shared. This matters. As climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution intensify, zero waste thinking offers a hopeful alternative. It rejects the notion that waste is an unavoidable consequence of modern life. Instead, it empowers individuals and communities to develop and offer scalable, culturally appropriate and environmentally sound solutions. The Forum on Zero Waste Living provides a means to break the cycle of waste by addressing its root causes and empowering communities to lead the transition. It's a call for solutions that go beyond technical fixes; solutions that are socially just and economically viable. By gathering a broad coalition of actors in Istanbul, it will reaffirm global solidarity and accelerate the transition towards a world where waste is no longer inevitable but preventable. In a world where waste is growing faster than populations, the message from Istanbul will be clear: the future is not in waste management, it's in waste prevention.
Associated Press
30-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Mr Samed Agirbas President of the Zero Waste Foundation on International Zero Waste Day
Community Action needed to tackle global waste challenge ISTAMBUL, TURKEY, March 30, 2025 / / -- On International Zero Waste Day, the global waste challenge has reached unsustainable proportions. According to the United Nations, the world generates between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste every year. The global direct cost of managing this waste is a staggering USD 252 billion. The indirect cost resulting from pollution and poor waste management is USD 361 billion. By 2050, it is estimated that most cities will run out of landfills and the direct cost of waste management globally will reach over USD 500 billion annually. Some 2.7 billion people lack access to solid waste collecting leading to open dumping and environmental risks. In fact, waste pollution impacts human health, strains economies and leads to biodiversity loss and pollution. Supporting the United Nations Secretary-General's Advisory Group on Zero Waste, the Foundation is galvanising global support and establishing a network of like-minded governments and cities to adopt Zero Waste practices. In the case of Turkiye, we generate more than 30 million tons of municipal solid waste every year. This is equivalent to about 400 kg per person. Whilst the Zero Waste Movement started in Turkiye, critical challenges remain. The waste collection rate in the country is 77% and the country has very sound policies. However, the illegal dumping of waste material remains a major challenge. In 2022, H.E. Mme Emine Erdogan, the First Lady of Turkiye, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres signed the Global Zero Waste Goodwill Declaration. The initiative has since grown into an international movement involving over 62 countries with 10,000 signature of prominent persons. What we need is stronger collective action at the local level to deal with waste management challenges. The Zero Waste Foundation, which was established to advocate for an all of society approach starting from individual responsibility and action, have established strategic partnerships in all regions of the world. Through our partnership with Kuala Lumpur, for example, we are fostering knowledge exchange and capacity building between Turkiye and Malaysia. We support Kuala Lumpur City' Hall's Zero Waste initiative that aims to reduce the city's waste footprint from an estimated 1.4 million tonnes to 563 thousand tonnes per-year by 2040. Other than food waste, another major source of pollution is textile and fashion. According to the United Nations, the world produces 92 million tonnes of textile waste. This means a lorry load of clothing is incinerated every second. Taking into account the tremendous pressure of the fashion and textile industry, particularly its advertising and branding machinery, the United Nations decided to focus on the theme of Textile and Fashion Waste this year. At the Zero Waste Foundation, we call upon the fashion and textile industry to adopt sustainable policies to ensure the durability and quality of products. It goes beyond corporate social responsibility and makes good business sense to invest in the long term resilience of local communities particularly indigenous communities so that we can support circular economy practices. Only then will fashion be truly fashionable. About Zero Waste Foundation The Zero Waste Foundation was established in 2023 under the auspices of Emine Erdoğan, the wife of the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The foundation operates with the aim of promoting the Zero Waste Project and ensuring its sustainability. It strives to foster an environmentally conscious society by encouraging individuals and institutions to embrace the zero-waste philosophy. The foundation's primary objectives include raising awareness about zero waste, encouraging the exchange of knowledge and experience, and developing and disseminating best practices in this field. To achieve these goals, the foundation conducts extensive activities in areas such as education, research, project development, and implementation. To ensure the adoption of zero-waste practices in all areas, the foundation collaborates with public institutions, the private sector, and non-governmental organizations. Additionally, it aims to create a global impact by promoting zero-waste initiatives at the international level. About Samed Agirbas Samed Ağırbaş was born in 1994 in the Fatih district of Istanbul. He completed his master's degree in Business Administration and Finance at Mississippi State University. He is currently continuing his doctoral studies at the University of Massachusetts. Ağırbaş, who was elected as the President of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Youth Assembly in 2014, also assumed the roles of President of the Union of Turkish Municipalities Youth Assembly and the World Humanitarian Summit Youth Working Group. He was Special Advisor to the Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) and UN-HABITAT Eastern Europe and Central Asia Advisor, Ağırbaş ensured coordination of relations between UN member countries and UN agencies during his term and also led various projects. He continues his active duty at the United Nations. Currently acting as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of the Zero Waste Foundation, Ağırbaş, who acts with the desire to be a visionary at national and international levels with sustainability, environment and youth works, speaks advanced level English and beginner level Portuguese. Zero Waste Foundation +60 16-460 5617
