What is zero waste?

Zero waste is an approach that helps us redesign our life and society to significantly reduce, and eliminate the use of materials that eventually end up in landfills. To actualize this shift towards sustainable consumption patterns, efforts and commitment must come from consumers, businesses and governments.

On a personal level, we can reduce the amount of waste we produce by carefully managing our purchases. At the same time, we should maximize the lifecycle of products by reusing and recycling them. For businesses, it’s also important to design built-to-last or cradle-to-cradle products and packages and seek energy-efficient manufacturing processes. All of these methods can prevent waste at its source.

On a systematic level, governments and communities must establish policies and incentives that support citizens’ participation in zero-waste efforts. Unfortunately, our current economy heavily relies on a linear industrial system in which products are thrown away at the end of their short lifecycles, and never used again. To achieve zero waste, it is essential for all actors in society to change the way we manage waste.