AFRICA
2023 has been another year of growth, collaboration and solidarity within the movement. Undoubtedly our biggest highlight of the year was finally being able to bring together members to our Africa Regional Meeting in Tanzania. The meeting brought together 56 people from 17 countries across the region.
- New Members! This year also saw our membership increase by welcoming 10 new members from Cameroon, Chad, the DRC, Ghana, Malawi, Senegal and Tanzania.
- Project Support: We also were in a fortunate position to distribute subgrants to further organizing and work around zero waste implementation, organics management, documenting campaigns, plastic reduction efforts and, in particular, engagement around the global plastics treaty.
- GAIA/BFFP Africa Plastics Policy Working Group: We established an Africa Plastics Policy Working Group in February of 2023 this year. The working group currently has 40 members across 15 African Countries.
- Africa For Zero Waste Podcast: We launched a podcast in March of 2023, which aims to provide fresh perspectives on zero waste within the African context. We have since released 05 episodes on plastic, waste pickers, waste colonialism and brand audits.
- Working with waste pickers: In March 2023, in light of International Waste Picker Day, we held month-long activities to create awareness about the demands and needs of waste pickers and compiled an online guide on how to partner with waste pickers.
The commitment and dedication shown by our members is something that continues to amaze and inspire us. On behalf of the Africa team, we are grateful for the memories and moments we shared this year and are looking forward towards 2024.
ASIA PACIFIC
A busy year for us in GAIA Asia Pacific as we continued to advance our vision for a Zero Waste world. A rundown of our key moments in 2023:
International Zero Waste Month 2023: Zero Waste to Zero Emissions – In 2023, the theme for International Zero Waste Month is “Zero Waste for Zero Emission,” underscoring our dedication to science-based solutions and the tackling of broader climate challenges. This bold initiative aims to demonstrate that Zero Waste goes beyond a momentary pause—it stands as a vital element in the ongoing and essential endeavor of climate action.
Refuse Single-Use Day – January 6 marked the launch of International Zero Waste Month 2023 with a spirited Zero Waste Flash Mob for Refuse Single-Use Day. The day highlights the urgent necessity to eliminate single-use plastics (SUP), given the staggering annual production of over 400 million tonnes, with less than 10 percent being recycled.
Methane Pledge – Waste is the third largest source of methane, a potent but short-lived greenhouse gas that can be reduced by diverting waste away from organic landfills. This year, more than 50 cities across the Asia Pacific have taken the pledge to establish low-cost, fast-acting, and climate-mitigating Zero Waste models that help meet global warming below 1.5˚C .
The Global Plastics Treaty: The Asia Pacific Perspective – The Global Plastics Treaty negotiations is a crucial opportunity for the Asia Pacific region to assert its demands and shape a robust plastics treaty tailored to its needs. In the Asia Pacific, advocacy groups stress the importance of addressing the entire plastics lifecycle, incorporating waste pickers’ perspectives, transparent data on plastic production, enforcing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and rejecting false solutions like incineration and chemical recycling. The message is clear: “We didn’t start the plastic crisis, but together we can end it.”
Day of Action Against Incineration – Together with allies, and affected communities, we took to the streets to call on the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and other International Financial Institutions (IFIs) to stop investing in waste-to-energy (WtE) incinerators and other false solutions.
Zero Waste Academy Global Cohort 2023 – Together Mother Earth Foundation PH and supported by Break Free From Plastic, 22 participants from the Asia Pacific, Africa, and Latin America gained first-hand knowledge of Zero Waste cases and practices through workshops and site visits. Learn more about the Zero Waste Academy.
LATIN AMERICA & THE CARIBBEAN
2023 was a year of growth and of reinforcing our commitment as a region to move towards zero waste and no false solutions.
- After years of not being able to meet in person, from 30 June to 2 July we held our regional meeting in Lima, Peru to discuss and work on key issues related to promoting zero waste initiatives and tackling false solutions in our region.
- We develop meeting and learning spaces for our members on topics such as: transboundary waste trade, climate justice, plastics, agroecology and false solutions.
- The Latin American delegation brought the urgent demands of our region to the negotiations of the Plastics Treaty INC-2 and INC-3
- Our members participated in international events: climate week, GRULAC preparatory meeting, annual forum on environmental activists, COP28.
- We welcomed eight new members! 5 elementos(Brasil), fundación Apaztle (México), Colectivo Comunidad Tz’unun Ya (Guatemala), Colectivo Ecologista Jalisco (México), Defensores del Cerro Abejonal (Costa Rica), La Movida Verde (Ecuador), Mar Viva and ORIS Brasil.
ZERO WASTE EUROPE
2023 was a key year to advance our vision of a zero waste world based on sufficiency, resilience, and well-being for all. Some of the ZWE leading moments in 2023 include:
- Reuse – the time of reckoning has truly come for single-use items, and the European Union – and the world – are witnessing a titanic clash between those who want to keep doing “business as usual” and those who recognise the need for a systemic, global change towards circularity. The negotiations on the revision of EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation; the various meetings for the development of UN Global Plastics Treaty; and the ZWE reuse-centric projects RSVP and ERIC certainly kept us very busy on this front!
- Textiles – we have placed a great focus on defining what a truly sustainable, circular business for textiles looks like, and highlighting the links between clothing production and consumption habits with a sufficiency-based model. You can learn more about it and check all our publications on Textiles in the dedicated ZWE Library tag.
- Network and movement-building – we had our yearly Network-Wide Gathering in Guimaraes (Portugal), which was as usual an opportunity for this community of zero waste visionaries spread across borders to come together, communicate, celebrate achievements, and engage in wide reflections on the meaning of the activities and projects developed by ZWE. You can read the dedicated NWG blog post here; and check out the achievements of the ZWE member organisations in 2023 on our Members’ Victories page or through the ZWE Changemakers series.
- Alternatives to incineration – we must mention “Enough is enough: a case for a moratorium on incineration” as a breakthrough study, as it revealed a troubling pattern of annual growth in waste incineration capacity; and stressed the urgent need for EU-wide measures and recommends a re-evaluation of incineration’s position in the waste hierarchy.
