PURPOSE: The International Day of Zero Waste observed every year on March 30th aims to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, support the societal shift towards circularity and raise awareness on how zero-waste initiatives contribute to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The waste sector contributes significantly to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss, and pollution. Humanity generates an estimated 2.24 billion tons of municipal solid waste annually, of which only 55% is managed in controlled facilities. Every year, around 931 million tons of food is lost or wasted and up to 14 million tons of plastic waste enters aquatic ecosystems. Zero Waste Day reminds us of our individual and collective responsibility to reduce waste.
FORUM: “Towards zero waste in fashion and textiles.” International Day of Zero Waste 2025. This year, for the first time, the day will be observed to shed light on the environmental and social challenges caused by the sector's linear business model, which drives overproduction and overconsumption. The textile sector embodies the whole waste agenda - from the importance of bolstering waste management globally to the need to reduce waste generation and promote sustainable consumption and production patterns. Every year the textile sector is estimated to be responsible for 2-8% of global GHG emissions, the use of 215 trillion litres of water (the equivalent of 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools), and 9% of annual microplastic pollution to oceans. These staggering figures highlight the unsustainable practices driving the industry, where every second, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothing is incinerated or sent to landfills around the world, causing significant environmental, economic and social impacts, especially in the global south. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #sdg12, #zerowasteDay, #30March.
EVENTS: The New York Observance of Zero Waste 2025, facilitated in-person, serves as a platform to underscore the critical importance of collective action in driving forward zero-waste initiatives, with a focus on fashion and textile waste.
Increase knowledge about the environmental and social impacts of fashion and textile waste and the potential of zero-waste solutions to promote sustainability and equity.
To inspire governments, producers, and consumers to embrace sustainable and circular practices, rethink manufacturing and consumption, reduce waste, and re-cover value from discarded textiles by showcasing initiatives and success stories in waste management, particularly in textiles and fashion, from Member States, young entrepreneurs and communities' initiatives.
Promoting zero-waste initiatives through this international day can help advance all the goals and targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Development Goal 11 and Sustainable Development Goal 12. These goals address all forms of waste, including food loss and waste, natural resource extraction and electronic waste. Get the Concept note!
Worldwide observance of the International Day of Zero Waste 2025. To celebrate the third annual International Day of Zero Waste, offices and partners from around the world are invited to organize activities and events, including creative exhibits, panel discussions, social media campaigns, training sessions and waste collection drives. Explore the list of upcoming worldwide activities, conferences and workshops and the events maps!
PUBLICATIONS: Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 - In response to Resolution 2/7 from the second session (UNEP/EA.2/RES.7) of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and reaffirmed in Resolution 4/7 from its fourth session (UNEP/EA.4/RES.7). Jointly published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 report provides an update on global waste generation and the cost of waste and its management. Municipal solid waste generation is predicted to grow from 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. Only 62 percent of this waste is managed in controlled facilities. Some 2.7 billion people lack access to solid waste collection. Download the report.
STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-general on behalf the International Day of Zero waste 2025 and the message of the executive-secretary of the UNEP for the International Day of Zero Waste 2025; March 30th.
PODCASTS: Waste mismanagement is a significant contributor to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss and pollution. Let’s discuss how to Reduce waste for a Greener Future. Listen to the audio-podcasts!
CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: This year's International Day of Zero Waste 2025 Campaign focuses on the theme of fashion and textile waste, shedding light on the environmental and social challenges caused by the sector's linear business model, which drives overproduction and overconsumption. Get the communication materials!
WHY WE CELEBRATE THE DAY?
HOW TO GET INVOLVED!
PARTNERSHIPS
The United Nations General Assembly by the resolution 77/161 of 14 December 2022 designated March 30th as the International Day of Zero Waste is aimed at raising awareness of national, subnational, regional and local zero-waste initiatives and their contribution to achieving sustainable development.
Waste mismanagement is a significant contributor to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity and nature loss and pollution. To combat this problem, it is necessary to take action at the individual, local and regional levels.
Zero-waste initiatives can foster sound waste management and minimize and prevent waste. This contributes to reducing pollution, mitigating the climate crisis, conserving biodiversity, enhancing food security and improving human health.
Zero Waste Day highlights vital individual, local and regional actions.
Raise awareness and provide a platform to promote sustainable and environmentally sound practices of preventing, minimizing and managing waste through resource efficiency and responsible production and consumption of products in a closed, circular system.
Share good practices from local and national zero-waste initiatives as catalytic tools for the promotion of sustainable consumption and production patterns, in addition to supporting the eco-design of products and enhancing the stakeholder participation in the process.
Promote multi-stakeholder partnerships to scale up the implementation of sustainable consumption, production, and circularity policies and programs. utilizing tools such as education, traditions, norms, and social values in reducing and recycling waste following sustainable consumption and production.
Advocate best practices for the recognition of the International Day of Zero Waste to the main stakeholders and raise awareness for consumer behavioral change, innovation and new technologies, sustainable urban planning, and investments in green infrastructure to prevent wasteful use of natural resources.
The International Day of Zero Waste is co-organized by the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Environment Programme, the UN-Habitat, the World Wildlife Fund. With the engagement of Member States, organizations of the UN system, other international and regional organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, and academia.
It’s time to build public and private partnership to underscore the critical importance of collective action in driving forward zero-waste initiatives by.
Increasing the knowledge about the importance of Zero Waste and its potential to protect the environment and promote sustainability.
Showcase zero-waste initiatives and success stories from Member States and good practices selected by the Advisory Board on Zero Waste.
Encourage governments, individuals, communities, and organizations to adopt Zero Waste principles and practices and to take action to rethink, reduce and recover waste.