Kathmandu, March 30: The third annual International Day of Zero Waste is being observed across the globe today.
This year, for the first time, the day will be observed under the theme “Towards zero waste in fashion and textiles”. The fashion and textiles sector embody the zero-waste agenda – from the importance of bolstering waste management globally to the need for reducing waste generation, and promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns, according to UN Habitat.
On the occasion, the UN Habitat has stressed that national and local governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, women, youth and other stakeholders from around the world all have an important role to play in achieving zero waste. Promoting zero-waste initiatives can also help advance the goals and targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Development Goal 11 on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, and Sustainable Development Goal 12 on ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
The fashion industry’s current linear model of overproduction and overconsumption has significant environmental and social impacts, as over 92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated annually.
Clothing production doubled from 2000 to 2015, while garment use duration decreased by 36 per cent.
The use of fossil fuel-based synthetic fibres contributes to microplastic pollution, harming ecosystems and human health. Furthermore, discarded clothing often ends up in the Global South, where inadequate waste management leads to open dumping, burning, and severe environmental and social consequences, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities.
The world generates between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste each year from textiles and packaging to electronics, plastics and food. But waste management systems are struggling to keep up. Waste pollution impacts human health, strains economies, and exacerbates the triple planetary crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Circular economy solutions can transform waste management by reducing pollution, creating green jobs, and fostering sustainable economic growth.
