International Day of Zero Waste focus to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns

Every year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste is produced globally. Eleven per cent of plastic waste comes from clothing and textiles, with only 8 per cent of textiles fibres in 2023 made from recycled sources.

New Delhi: The International Day of Zero Waste observed annually on 30 March, highlights both the importance of bolstering waste management globally and the need to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns.

Waste pollution threatens human health, costs the global economy hundreds of billions of dollars every year, and aggravates the triple planetary crisis: the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature, land and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste.

This year’s theme, “Towards zero waste in fashion and textiles” focuses on the urgent need to take action to reduce the waste impact from the fashion and textile sector and promote sustainability and circularity.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme, (UNEP) Every year, humanity generates between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste.

Some 2.7 billion people lack access to waste collection, 2 billion of whom live in rural areas. Waste pollution significantly threatens well-being, economic prosperity, and accelerates the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Without urgent action, annual municipal solid waste generation will hit 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050.

The International Day of Zero Waste was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 14 December 2022 to promote sustainable production and consumption patterns and encourage a shift towards a lifecycle approach, so no materials or resources go to waste. The day is facilitated by UNEP and UN-Habitat.

“The rising tide of waste is straining urban infrastructure, public health, and the environment—especially for 1.1 billion people in informal settlements and slums with limited waste collection and sanitation services,” said Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat. “We are committed to building a future where waste is no longer a problem but a resource.”

Raising concerns over the waste, UNEP Executive Director Andersen Inger said we need to reduce our the fashion footprint to save the planet from triple crisis.

Between 2000 and 2015, clothing production had doubled. Yet, it is estimated that 92 million tonnes of textile waste is generated worldwide each year.

This is equivalent to a truckload of clothing being incinerated or sent to landfills every second. It is driven by the rapid rise in production and consumption within the textile sector, causing severe environmental, economic, and social issues, especially in the Global South.

Upstream solutions and a zero-waste approach are essential for tackling the waste pollution crisis while generating economic value. Achieving zero waste requires active contributions from governments, industry, and consumers.