New York: The third annual International Day of Zero Waste is being observed across the globe today. This year marks the first time the day is celebrated under the theme ‘Towards zero waste in fashion and textiles’. The focus on the fashion and textiles sector highlights the zero-waste agenda, emphasizing the importance of improving waste management worldwide and reducing waste generation to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns.
According to National News Agency Nepal, UN Habitat has emphasized the significant roles national and local governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, women, youth, and other stakeholders play in achieving zero waste. Promoting zero-waste initiatives aligns with the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 11, which advocates for inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities, and Sustainable Development Goal 12, which focuses on sustainable consumption and production patterns.
The fashion industry is currently operating under a linear model characterized by overproduction and overconsumption, resulting in over 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually. Between 2000 and 2015, clothing production doubled while the lifespan of garments decreased by 36 percent. The reliance on fossil fuel-based synthetic fibres exacerbates microplastic pollution, posing threats to ecosystems and human health. Additionally, discarded clothing often ends up in the Global South, where inadequate waste management results in open dumping and burning, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities.
Globally, between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste are generated each year, encompassing textiles, packaging, electronics, plastics, and food. However, waste management systems are struggling to cope with this volume. Waste pollution not only affects human health and strains economies but also exacerbates the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Circular economy solutions offer a path to transform waste management by reducing pollution, creating green jobs, and fostering sustainable economic growth.