A Zero Waste solution to the era of fast, disposable fashion

Sustainability

Sponsored by Think City

Globally, humans generate between 2.1 billion and 2.3 billion tons of municipal solid waste each year. If current trends continue, we will generate 3.8 billion tons annually by 2050.

But there’s one sector in particular that contributes more than its fair share in this regard. Driven by one of the most powerful marketing engines on Earth, the business model for the fashion industry is anchored in an aspirational narrative of newness, immediacy and disposability, resulting in mass overconsumption and waste.

That’s why the General Assembly of the United Nations has designated the fashion industry as its primary focus for the third International Zero Waste Day, on 30 March 2025.

Fashion waste in numbers

Textile production and consumption volumes are rapidly rising, increasing the sector’s impact and outpacing the progress made towards the sustainability of its products and practices. Each year, 92 million tonnes of textile waste are generated worldwide – the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothing being incinerated or dumped in landfills every second.
Globally, consumers lose about $460 billion of value each year by throwing away clothes that they could continue to wear: some garments are estimated to be discarded after just seven to 10 uses.
Eleven per cent of plastic waste comes from clothing and textiles, making it third in line after packaging (40 per cent) and consumer goods (12 per cent). Only 8 per cent of textiles fibres in 2023 were made from recycled sources, with less than 1 per cent of the total fibre market coming from textile-to-textile recycling. A lack of fibre recycling practices is estimated to equate to an estimated annual value loss of more than $100 billion.

For more details on these statistics click here

Paris: ground zero for Zero Waste efforts

One city in particular could be the best place to combat the huge waste the fashion industry in particular creates. Both the global capital of high fashion and the birthplace of the 15-minute city, an idea championed by its mayor Anne Hidalgo, Paris is an ideal focal point for Zero Waste initiatives to aim at. “In Paris, it is time to align high fashion with heightened self-commitment towards Zero Waste,” says Samed Agirbas, the foundation’s president. “Just as we know our cities work better if we live within a 15-minute radius of connectivity, so too must our actions be aligned with our environmental responsibility.

“The world’s top brands and key decision-makers in the fashion industry meet every year in Paris. They can encourage the entire fashion and textile industry to adopt Zero Waste principles. It is not going to be easy, but we are hoping the City of Lights can show the way by adopting a more responsible fashion industry.”

The problem isn’t just restricted to first-world nations, either. More often than not, yesterday’s fashion – in the form of old garments and discarded clothes – end up in poorer regions of the global south. “Not only has this led to the destruction of the local textile industry, it has resulted in environmental pollution,” says Samed. According to the United Nations, more than 15,000 chemicals can be used during the textile manufacturing process, including detergents, flame retardants, stain repellents, softeners and carriers. The used textiles that end up in the global south are made increasingly of poor materials, and this results in a pollution crisis that affects the entire globe.

Learning from locals

No one is better placed to understand the effects of pollution better than the people who are directly affected by it. And there’s much we can learn from them. That’s why Zero Waste Foundation works with indigenous community leaders, to understand and benefit from the sustainable living practices they have always employed.

This is particularly relevant when it comes to textiles. “The foundation actively engages with these communities to incorporate their traditional ecological wisdom into modern waste management strategies,” says Samed. “In Turkey, for example, we have met with indigenous groups across the country, fostering dialogue and collaboration to ensure that their perspectives are integrated into the country’s Zero Waste policies.”

To advance the goal of a truly Zero Waste lifestyle, the foundation conducts extensive activities in areas such as education, research, project development and implementation. “We are also working towards introducing the Zero Waste Awards to recognise positive efforts towards a new generation of industry players and innovative individuals who can transition us towards a Zero Waste lifestyle,” says Samed.

From Turkey to the world

Established in Turkey in 2023, under the patronage of First Lady Emine Erdogan, the Zero Waste Foundation advocates for individual and corporate responsibility in finding and implementing tangible solutions for the world’s waste problem. “We believe in a whole-of-society approach,” says Samed. “Taking inspiration from our First Lady’s campaign and philosophy of living within the natural boundaries of nature, we believe in a balanced life and that we should not take from future generations.”

The foundation’s primary objectives include raising awareness about Zero Waste, encouraging the exchange of knowledge and experience and developing and disseminating best practices in this field. Since its establishment, the foundation has been actively engaging United Nations member states, urging relevant ministries to adopt the Zero Waste agenda. “Apart from the United Nations, where we are partners with UN-Habitat and UNEP, we have been actively engaging with member states. To date, more than 50 countries have signed up, including in the European Union, Central Asia and Southeast Asia,” says Samed.

Last month, for example, the Zero Waste Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with the mayor of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Maimunah Mohd Sharif, as well as with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation, the special-purpose vehicle of Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources, to share expertise and collaborate in the strengthening of circular economy initiatives in Malaysia.

“Ultimately, the global waste crisis is generated by the way our economies are organised around the fallacy of unlimited resources. In Kuala Lumpur, we have to allocate 260 million Malaysian ringgits to deal with 2,300 tons of waste daily,” says Sharif, who was previously the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat. “By working with the Zero Waste Foundation, Kuala Lumpur has the opportunity to upgrade our technical capacity and upscale our waste-to-wealth initiative throughout Greater Kuala Lumpur, the biggest urban conurbation in Malaysia,” she adds.

Emine Erdogan calls for the translation of vision and principles into action: “On this Zero Waste Day, we stand united in our commitment to building a more sustainable world. Waste reduction is not just an environmental necessity but a moral duty to future generations. Through the efforts of the Zero Waste Foundation and the UN Zero Waste Advisory Board, we continue to drive global change, fostering responsible consumption and sustainable solutions. I invite individuals, communities and nations to take action – small steps lead to transformative impact. Together, we can turn the vision of a Zero Waste world into reality.”

Neil Khor was Chief of Staff at UN-Habitat (2019-2024)

Think City is an impact organisation established in 2009 to create more sustainable and equitable places for the benefit of all. Our knowledge, skills and strategies focus on urban solutions, the environment, social communities, and the cultural economy. Think City is a wholly owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional Berhad (the sovereign wealth fund of the Government of Malaysia). For more information, log on to thinkcity.com.my.