Celebrating this Year’s Plastic Free July

In the more than ten years since Plastic Free July began, the global movement to reduce plastic pollution has grown into one of the world’s largest environmental campaigns. Every July, millions of people, organizations, businesses, and communities take action to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics while promoting more sustainable, zero waste alternatives.

At GAIA, Plastic Free July is an opportunity to highlight the urgent need to reduce plastic production, expand community-led zero waste solutions, and advocate for policies that protect both people and the planet. Together, we can stop plastic pollution while strengthening local economies, protecting public health, and building resilient communities worldwide.

Learn more about our plastics work

Why Plastic Pollution Is a Global Environmental and Health Crisis

The science is clear: plastic overproduction is causing a worldwide environmental and public health crisis. Plastic pollutes at each stage of its existence, from fossil fuel extraction, manufacturing, use, and disposal in dumps, incinerators, or the open environment. Microplastics are found contaminating our food, drinking water, and even our bodies, and plastic contains thousands of chemicals, some of which are known to be toxic to humans. Single-use plastic is used for seconds before thrown away, where it will remain forever as trash, or burned in an incinerator– turning it into air pollution and toxic ash or sludge, threatening the health of communities nearby. Much of this waste is also shipped from higher income countries to areas of the Global South who then have to deal with the toxic burden of other people’s pollution, called “waste colonialism.”

Plastic pollution affects every ecosystem on Earth. From oceans and rivers to agricultural soils and urban communities, plastic waste threatens biodiversity, contaminates food systems, and disproportionately impacts communities already facing environmental injustice. Reducing plastic production is one of the most effective ways to address the problem at its source.

How Plastic Production Contributes to Climate Change

Not only is plastic a threat to our health and environment but plastic is also a significant concern for our climate. More than 99% of plastics are made of fossil fuels, and if plastic’s life cycle were a country, it would be the fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, and unless the world takes action, primary plastic production will consume 21-31% of the global carbon budget by 2050.

Reducing plastic production is not only a waste issue—it is also a climate solution. Every stage of the plastic life cycle generates greenhouse gas emissions, making plastic reduction an essential strategy for meeting global climate goals and protecting future generations.

Learn more about our climate work

The Plastics Treaty: A Battle for Production Reduction

Thanks to the advocacy of Indigenous Peoples and civil society organizations worldwide, in 2021 the United Nations began a process to develop a plastics treaty that addresses pollution at each stage of its life cycle, from extraction to disposal. GAIA members and other civil society leaders have been at each round of negotiations demanding a strong treaty that cuts plastic production. The process has been far from ideal: hundreds of Industry lobbyists are present, and petrochemical producing countries have worked to water down the treaty and stall negotiations. However, a large group of countries, particularly in Africa and other parts of the world most impacted and least responsible for the crisis, have not backed down on such topics as human health, a strong financial mechanism, and of course, reducing plastic production. As negotiations continue, GAIA remains committed to supporting ambitious governments and civil society organizations working toward a legally binding plastics treaty that addresses the full life cycle of plastics—from extraction to disposal—and prioritizes human health, environmental justice, and meaningful reductions in plastic production.

Check out our plastics treaty campaign page!

How GAIA and Communities Are Advancing Zero Waste Solutions

The zero waste solutions to the plastic crisis put forward by GAIA members around the world are gaining momentum: there is now even a United Nations Day of Zero Waste, and more and more countries are recognizing zero waste as a key climate solution. GAIA members are working with their cities to develop community-led zero waste systems that phase out plastic use while strengthening local economies, some of which were recognized by the United Nations in their list 20 Cities Towards Zero Waste this year. To date over 500 cities have committed to zero waste, and over 122 million people are living in a zero waste city. Our Zero Waste Academies have brought together over 500 participants from around the world to learn about how to develop and strengthen their zero waste projects.

These community-led initiatives demonstrate that zero waste systems are not only possible—they are already delivering measurable environmental, economic, and public health benefits. By investing in waste prevention, reuse, composting and recycling instead of disposal, communities can reduce plastic pollution while creating local jobs and strengthening climate resilience.

Learn more about our zero waste work

Take the Plastic Free July Challenge

To get to a world free from plastic pollution, it’ll take both individual and collective action. Join us in the Plastic Free July challenge! Here are some actions you can take locally and in your daily life to reduce your plastic footprint:

Bring your own bag to go shopping
Ask for reusable foodware at your local establishments
Bring a reusable bottle with you to stay hydrated and go waste-free
Support local zero waste businesses
Choose products with minimal or refillable packaging whenever possible.
Support policies and businesses that prioritize reuse over single-use plastics.

How You Can Help Reduce Plastic Pollution

Ending plastic pollution requires both individual action and systemic change. Whether you support local zero waste initiatives, advocate for stronger policies, or become part of GAIA’s global network, every action contributes to a healthier and more just future.

Donate. Your donation supports GAIA and incredible grassroots leaders fighting pollution, building movements, and transforming transforming cities into places centered on community power, worker rights, racial justice, gender equity, sustainability, and resilience.
Find a GAIA member in your region. GAIA has members in Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, the U.S. and Canada, and Africa.
Already with an organization? Become a GAIA member! You will join an alliance of over 1,000 groups in over 100 countries, and gain access to materials that support local campaigning, regional and cross-regional power-building, and support from regional GAIA staff.

Frequently Asked Questions About Plastic Free July

What is Plastic Free July?

Plastic Free July is a global movement that encourages people to reduce their use of single-use plastics and adopt more sustainable habits throughout July and beyond.

Why is plastic pollution harmful?

Plastic pollution contaminates ecosystems, threatens wildlife, contributes to climate change, and exposes people to microplastics and harmful chemicals throughout the plastic life cycle.

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that have been found in oceans, rivers, soil, drinking water, food, and even the human body. They are created as larger plastic items break down over time.

How does plastic contribute to climate change?

More than 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels. Greenhouse gas emissions occur during extraction, production, transportation, use, and disposal, making plastic pollution closely linked to the climate crisis.

What is the Plastics Treaty?

The plastics treaty is an international effort led through the United Nations to create legally binding measures that address plastic pollution across the entire plastic life cycle.

What is zero waste?

According to the Zero Waste International Alliance, zero waste is the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health. Zero waste is both a goal and a plan of action to achieve it.

Plastic Free July reminds us that ending plastic pollution requires both everyday actions and ambitious regional and international policies. Communities around the world are already proving that zero waste systems, reduced plastic production, and environmental justice go hand in hand.

By supporting local solutions, advocating for a strong plastics treaty, and choosing to reduce plastic waste in our daily lives, we can help create healthier communities and a more sustainable future.

Join GAIA in building a world beyond plastic pollution—not just in July, but every day of the year.

A hopeful narrative in need of consistent implementation

This past June 5–7, GAIA was present at the second Global Zero Waste Forum, organized by the Zero Waste Foundation in Istanbul, Türkiye, under the theme “Road to Antalya: Zero Waste as Climate Action.” The attendance was massive, with over 5,000 participants from 183 countries. Keynote presentations were delivered by Türkiye’s President Recep Erdoğan, First Lady Emine Erdoğan (Honorary President of the Zero Waste Foundation), and Samed Ağırbaş (President of the Foundation and Climate High-Level Champion for COP31).

For those working to transition from linear waste management systems to zero waste, the Forum was a pleasant surprise. The program was well-designed and reflected the true spirit of zero waste by emphasizing upstream interventions and framing zero waste as a driver of systemic change. Discussions on reuse, repair, financing the transition to zero waste, and recognizing waste pickers were among the essential conversations needed to move away from wasteful societies. It was refreshing to attend a mainstream waste event where the focus was not on landfills, incinerators, or extravagant and expensive methods for processing single-use plastics that should not be produced in the first place. Neil Khor, Advisor to the President of the UN Habitat Assembly and to the Zero Waste Foundation, summed up the spirit of the Forum when he stated: “Landfill and incineration are not zero waste.”

It is also promising to see a UN member state advocating for zero waste and gaining traction among other governments and actors in the waste and climate sectors. Although there is still no universally accepted definition of zero waste, the approach presented at the Forum offers hope by clearly moving in the right direction. The zero waste movement’s task now is to advocate for this orientation to remain on track and avoid being co-opted by the waste management industry and others seeking to maintain the status quo of linear waste systems.

The strong connection between zero waste and climate was another major strength of the Forum. Following the COP31 Presidency’s push to place zero waste as a top priority in the Climate Action Agenda, the Forum made significant progress in demonstrating how zero waste is a cross-cutting strategy for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Several panels explored how action can be taken at different levels—from cities to international agencies.

However, the lack of local civil society representatives among speakers and participants was obvious and regrettable. Many organizations and research groups are doing fantastic work on waste and climate change and should have been invited. Their participation would have enriched the panels with real-world experiences and knowledge, while also paving the way for zero waste implementation in Türkiye. After the Forum, many GAIA members and allies met with the İstanbul Geri Dönüşüm İşçileri Derneği (Istanbul’s Recycling Workers Association – ISGDIDER) at one of the materials recovery facilities they manage. We learned firsthand about the experience of those who sustain the country’s recycling system despite significant challenges and lack of recognition. These workers’ experience is central to advancing zero waste in Türkiye, and it would have been invaluable for Forum participants to learn about their work and hear their perspectives.

The Forum left many of us with a sense of hope, grounded in the right focus of the discussions: viewing zero waste as a way to drive systemic change and address climate change. Yet, important gaps remain: How does this translate into practice? How is Türkiye advancing zero waste implementation internally? As Lhermie Areja, a government official from Siquijor, Philippines, stated at the Forum: “Zero waste is not a dream. It is a decision.” And as noted in the declaration signed by over 120 civil society organizations, the zero waste agenda must reinforce, not replace, a binding global roadmap for fossil fuel phase-out.

The run-up to COP31 offers Türkiye an opportunity to build a zero waste legacy internally and demand greater consistency in taking action and creating pathways for implementing commitments. For instance, the target announced by the COP31 Presidency to “halve the growth in global waste by 2035” is directionally correct but lacks the clarity needed for policy credibility. If COP31 is serious about a zero waste agenda, success must be measured in concrete outcomes: absolute reductions in waste generation, measurable methane cuts from organic waste, reduced plastic production, a shift of climate finance toward zero waste implementation, and a just transition for waste pickers and waste workers.

Recycling is garbage without waste pickers!

Zero Waste Stories from the Global South: Nipe Fagio in Tanzania, Instituto Polis in Brazil, Mother Earth Foundation in the Philippines

GAIA Delegation Site Visit to an IAWP Affiliate Facility

Environmental leaders, community advocates, and policy experts from across the Asia Pacific convened on January 22 for Fire or Ice: Growth of Bioplastics in the Asia Pacific, an online discussion examining regulatory, policy, and investment trends driving the expansion of bioplastics and their implications for communities, climate, and human health.

Panelists warned that the unchecked growth of bioplastics risks repeating the environmental and social harms of conventional plastics, particularly when promoted as a quick fix rather than part of a broader system change.

Arpita Bhagat, Plastic Policy Officer at GAIA Asia Pacific and moderator of the panel, stressed the need to move beyond material substitution. “Bioplastics are often framed as sustainable by default, whereas the material combinations keep evolving without minimum design standards or safe safeguards. Without chemical transparency, strong regulations, and a clear focus on the reduction of single-use material, they are another false narrative that wastes precious resources and delays real action. Therefore, our governments must reevaluate their policy incentives for bioplastics promotion,” she said.

Participants examined the scale of bioplastics production in the region, noting that Asia has already become the largest producer and exporter. Panelists cautioned that this rapid growth is being driven more by market incentives than by environmental safeguards.

Pichmol Rugrod, Plastic-Free Future Project Lead of Greenpeace Thailand, highlighted how national policies can unintentionally reinforce harmful narratives. “Thailand is promoting itself as a biodegradable hub through investment incentives and policy frameworks like the bio-circular-green economy. But this does not address plastic pollution at its root. Plastic packaging, even when labeled biodegradable, does not truly biodegrade in real-world conditions and therefore is not the real solution. Reuse and refill systems are,” she said.

The discussion also centered on Indigenous and frontline community perspectives. Rufino Varea, Director of the Pacific Indigenous Climate Action Network (PICAN) in Fiji, said, “Bioplastics are a regrettable solution that only creates a false sense of security about addressing the plastic crisis. They do not fit our Global South realities. We already face disproportionate waste burdens threatening our ecosystems, affecting marine food webs, and causing toxicity to our waters. Our Indigenous knowledge systems have the heritage of organic materials that are inherently circular, regenerative, and in harmony with the economy.”

Chemical safety and environmental health risks were raised as major concerns. Jam Lorenzo, Deputy Executive Director of BAN Toxics, emphasized that bioplastics are not inherently safer. “Studies show that more than half of tested bioplastics contain toxic chemicals similar to those found in conventional plastics, including substances like lead and cadmium when production is poorly regulated,” he said. “Our position is simple. No data, no market.”

Experts also flagged agricultural and food safety impacts. Mageswari Sangaralingam, Chief Executive of the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) in Malaysia, pointed to growing evidence of harm to soils and crops. “Bioplastics are marketed as eco-friendly, but they fragment, break down into microplastics, and release chemical additives that contaminate soil and enter food systems. A 2025 study by Jing Liu found that starch-based plastic is potentially as toxic as petroleum-based plastic. We must put a blanket ban on using bioplastics for mulching films,” she said.

Doun Moon, Policy and Research Officer of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), cautioned against assuming bioplastics are a climate solution. “Switching from petroleum-based plastics to bioplastics does not automatically cut emissions, as there is a large amount of GHG emissions associated with land use, material production, and end-of-life treatments,” she said. She cited South Korea’s experience, where the bioplastics industry is growing slowly despite the government’s encouragement and attempts to pass a promotional bill.

Legal and regulatory gaps were also highlighted. Madhuvanthi Rajkumar, an independent consultant working at the intersection of law, public policy, and rights-based advocacy from India, mentioned, “While we are seeing unprecedented policy momentum (in India and Asia) in favour of bioplastics, the primary risk is substituting one set of problems for another while believing we’ve solved the crisis. Bioplastics come with the same array of negative environmental, social, and health impacts as conventional fossil-fuel-based plastics, in some ways even worse, while giving a false sense of sustainability that increases consumption and waste generation. It’s not even old wine in a new bottle; It’s old wine in an old bottle but with a “green” label!”

The panel concluded with a shared call for action. Speakers emphasized that the Global Plastics Treaty must prioritize binding measures on plastic production reduction, toxic chemicals, and real reuse-based systems, rather than legitimizing alternative single-use materials. The focus must remain on reuse and refill systems rather than new single-use materials.

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Watch the recording here.

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Press contacts:

Asia Pacific: Robi Kate Miranda, Communications Officer for Campaigns, robi@no-burn.org

GAIAis a worldwide alliance of more than 1,000 grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in over 90 countries. With our work we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, zero waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped.

06 January 2026 – #RefuseSingleUseDay shines a light on a simple idea that feels almost old-fashioned: stop treating things as throwaways in the first place. From plastic sachets to paper cups to misleading bio-based packaging, single-use items continue to strain ecosystems and local budgets. The campaign demands a systemic shift away from the “take-make-waste” economy that has led us into the throes of a triple planetary crisis of pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change.

Reuse offers a far more grounded approach, and many communities are proving that it works. Reuse systems rely on durable products and toxic-free packaging designed for repeated cycles of use. This cuts waste at the source, reduces reliance on costly disposal systems, preserves natural resources, and supports the local economy with green jobs. Around the world, local initiatives show how reuse can work in practice. In Asia, the Kuha sa Tingi (take by small amounts) refill system in the Philippines, crockery rental banks in India, reusable tableware services in Hong Kong, and Vietnam’s Refillables Dong Day demonstrate that reuse can fit many cultural and economic contexts.

In much of the Global South, reuse and refill are hardly radical ideas. Not long before companies brought single-use to our homes, people topped up their containers at neighborhood shops, borrowed shared items for gatherings, and passed along used objects for generations. These long-standing habits prove that reuse is practical, shaped by local knowledge, and protects cultural identity. The recent influx of investment and policy support is simply helping scale models that have worked for generations.

While these practices never disappeared in many parts of the world, Europe is now showing how policy and investment can bring reuse to a city-wide scale: municipal policies, shared infrastructure, and programs like the Elevating Reuse in Cities (ERIC) and the RSVP Reuse Blueprint are turning pilots into city-wide solutions with deposit-and-return schemes and public procurement strategies that create local green jobs.

Reports such as The Economics of Reuse Systems and Unpacking Reuse in Asia outline the social and economic case for reuse. Citing business initiatives, the reports recommend stronger policies that include Extended Producer Responsibility fees that help fund reuse infrastructure and place clear responsibility on producers and public authorities.

” Reuse cannot be treated merely as a pilot—it must become the new norm within production and consumption systems. Moreover, several Southeast Asian countries have already established national roadmaps, which can serve as a strong foundation aligned with the waste-reduction ambitions of the Global Plastic Treaty,” stresses Rahyang Nusantara of Dietplastik Indonesia, a co-convenor of the Asia Reuse Consortium – a collaborative network of CSOs, businesses, and government officials dedicated to promoting reuse as a sustainable alternative to single-use packaging.

This January 6 marks Refuse Single-Use Day, a global initiative launched in 2023 to push back against our throwaway culture. The campaign unites businesses, governments, civil society organizations, and young people to challenge the norms of disposability. Rather than swapping one waste stream for another, it calls for reducing reliance on all single-use materials, whether plastic, paper, or bio-based alternatives. By championing real, scalable reuse systems, the movement advocates for a shift from the ‘take-make-waste’ economy to a future built on genuine reuse and zero waste. This year also marks a milestone: the second anniversary of the Asia Reuse Consortium, a key force in driving reuse collaboration across the region.

A cleaner path forward starts with funding reuse infrastructure, aligning on shared standards, and scaling local solutions that are already proving their worth. Done well, reuse doesn’t just trim waste; it protects ecosystems and creates green jobs with actual staying power. A healthier future isn’t wishful thinking; it’s practical, it’s doable, and it’s sitting in a tote bag near you. Remember—always #ChooseReuse.

Media Contacts:

Dan Abril, Communications Officer for Programs, GAIA Asia Pacific | dan@no-burn.org | +639174194426

Robi Kate Miranda, Communications Officer for Campaigns, GAIA Asia Pacific | robi@no-burn.org | +63927 585 4157⁩

2026 January 01 – As the world welcomes the New Year, more than 1,000 Civil Society Organizations and Grassroots community groups in over 90 countries are also gearing up for the annual celebration of International Zero Waste Month, amplifying the call for more investment to help cities transition to the zero waste system. This January, GAIA and its members launch International Zero Waste Month 2026, putting a spotlight on the fact that it is increasingly hard for governments and investors to ignore: Zero Waste is not some fringe dream; it’s a tested solution that now needs appropriate financing to scale.

Marking the first IZWM after GAIA’s 25th anniversary, this global month of action celebrates a quarter century of collaboration that has reshaped how cities manage waste, how communities push back against polluting industries, and how real Zero Waste systems can thrive when people lead the charge.

Over the past twenty-five years, GAIA members have demonstrated reuse systems, segregation-at-source programmes, composting schemes, and waste worker integration that have already transformed neighbourhoods and cities.

In the Philippines, San Fernando achieved city-wide compliance through community-led segregation. Bandung, Indonesia, reduced landfill waste by 73–86% via decentralized composting and recycling, while Kerala, India, scaled similar decentralized systems across the entire state. Tallinn, Estonia, became the country’s first Zero Waste Candidate City. Across Latin America, Buenos Aires integrates waste pickers into replicable systems. In Africa, GAIA pilots demonstrate how community projects can defeat incinerator plans. Meanwhile, in North America, groups in Halifax and Nanaimo are steadily advancing their zero waste goals.

Tallinn, Estonia, became the first Estonian Zero Waste Candidate City. In Latin America, Buenos Aires integrates waste pickers into replicable systems. In Africa, GAIA pilots defeat incinerators with community projects. In the US and Canada, groups like Halifax and Nanaimo advance zero waste goals.

From Asia to the rest of the world, Zero Waste systems are building momentum. Yet, far too many of them depend on interim, project-based funding that keeps the solutions small and long-term impact susceptible to political and financial whims. IZWM 2026 puts the spotlight squarely on this gap, calling on partners, donors, and allies to back the systems and communities that are already proving Zero Waste works.

Throughout January, IZWM 2026 will unfold through weekly themes that bring to life the story of the movement, from the barriers communities face to innovations changing whole cities. Each week will be member-led actions, reports, digital campaigns, and stories to lift work happening on the ground and amplify global solidarity.

IZWM 2026 Weekly Themes:

Week 1: Launch (Jan 1–5): A global kickoff celebrating the 25-year journey of GAIA, charting a bold path toward long-term Zero Waste investment.
Week 2: Barriers to Zero Waste (Jan 6–12): This includes, but is not limited to, single-use dependence and policy loopholes; all of which are underlined by the global #RefuseSingleUse Day.
Week 3: Solutions Week (Jan 13–19): We showcase community-led innovations involving reuse systems, segregation-at-source programmes, and composting models.
Week 4: False Solutions Week (Jan 20–26): An exposé on misleading approaches: incineration and plastic credits that divert resources away from real climate and waste solutions.
Week 5: Humans of Zero Waste (Jan 27–31): Emphasizing the backbone of the movement: waste pickers and others in the informal waste sector, community leaders, and zero waste champions who, through their labour and leadership, effect system-wide change.

Objectives of the month-long campaign are clear: positioning zero waste as one of the most effective responses to the global waste crisis; amplifying the work and leadership of member organisations worldwide; strengthening a unified narrative about the change the movement is driving.

By focusing on the people and communities leading this shift, GAIA aims to bring the story of zero waste beyond policy circles into public consciousness. Throughout January, spokespeople, case studies, and grassroots perspectives from GAIA and its members will be made available. As the world faces rising waste volumes, worsening climate impacts, and mounting pressure to move beyond fossil-fuel-driven industries, IZWM 2026 shows that zero waste solutions are already working. What the world needs now is the political will and financial backing to take them mainstream.

For Zero Waste Month activities happening worldwide, check out zwmonth.zerowaste.asia

The International Zero Waste Month is featured in the following partner media outlets: Daily Asia Today Quetta (Pakistan), The Manila Times (The Philippines), Boracay Island News Network (The Philippines), and Pressenza.

Manila, Philippines – Environmental network Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) and Break Free From Plastic (BFFP) in Asia Pacific representing thousands of organizations across over 93 countries, express strong disappointment over the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation’s panel on November 5, 2025 during the 67th Ramon Magsaysay Awards Festival Season in cahoots with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which further peddle false solutions to the pollution crisis

In a letter addressed to the foundation, the giant environmental network said that this year’s Ramon Magsaysay Awards, which used to be a space for celebrating environmentally sustainable and just solutions, served as a dagger struck into the hearts of communities fighting for their rights to clean air, soil, water, health, and the environment. These communities have firsthand experience of the toxic impacts of waste-to-energy (WtE) plants, and are fighting to have these removed.

During the event, awardee Ms. Shaahina Ali described incineration as a “transitional solution” to plastic pollution. Ali also said that newer WtE technologies address pollution concerns and that these facilities offer the best option for the Maldives. These messages are promoted by international financial institutions (IFIs), such as the ADB, to legitimize incineration as a formal waste management method in the region. WtE releases high levels of greenhouse gases that worsen the climate crisis. It also threatens food and water systems, damages ecosystems, and exposes communities to rising sea levels and more extreme weather.

The civil society organizations emphasize that ADB remains one of the largest financiers and policy architects promoting WtE incineration in the Asia Pacific. Since the Paris Agreement was adopted by countries in 2015, ADB provided USD 15.3 billion to 49 projects with incineration components and policy reforms institutionalizing false solutions such as plastic credits through loans, grants, equity investments, and technical assistance. ADB’s financing for plastic pollution locks countries into a linear and unsustainable model of plastic production.

“In a world where urgent actions are needed to address plastic pollution, debt burdens, and limiting the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius, we urge the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation to inhibit from staging unethical, inappropriate, and unjust development alternatives,” said Mayang Azurin, Deputy Director for Campaigns at GAIA Asia Pacific. “RMAF must instead set the development discussions toward empowering community solutions moving toward transformative shifts instead of echoing the agenda of international financial institutions like the ADB and World Bank.”

Civil society organizations also urged the award-giving body to seriously rethink the narratives of what sustainable and just solutions are celebrated in the region by recognizing community voices, and respecting science-based facts and policy directions against what is peddled as solutions by IFIs such as the ADB. International groups offered cross-learning with the award-giving body to navigate complex but solvable problems without resorting to false solutions.

Civil society leaders from the region have this to say:

Marian Ledesma, Zero Waste Campaigner, Greenpeace Philippines, said:

“It is disappointing to see a prestigious award for ethical leadership promote waste-to-energy. This is a false solution that harms communities and distracts from real action on plastic pollution. RMAF must widen its understanding of the crisis. Downstream fixes are outdated, and burning waste is dangerous. Communities and institutions across Asia have already shown that upstream solutions, such as reduction and reuse systems, not only work, but bring benefits to communities.”

Arpita Bhagat, Plastic Policy Officer, GAIA Asia Pacific, said:

“Asian values call for living in balance with nature. Incineration, plastic credits, and offsets do the opposite. They let industries keep polluting while communities bear the cost. These approaches echo a colonial mindset that treats Asia as a dumping ground. By elevating ideas that fuel toxic pollution and the linear take-make-waste model, RMAF undermines the grassroots fight for environmental justice.”

Wahyu Eka Styawan, Campaigner of WALHI Jawa Timur:

“WALHI regrets RMAF’s collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, which is funding waste-to-energy projects in the region. With air quality monitoring support from GAIA, we found PM2.5 spikes around the Benowo WtE plant that exceeded WHO guidelines. This matches Surabaya’s high respiratory infection rates. WtE has worsened environmental and health risks, and ADB’s role in RMAF indirectly reinforces a harmful project.”

Atty. Zelda Soriano, Founder and Executive Director, Community Legal Help and Public Interest Centre (C-HELP), said:

“RMAF has long honored leaders tackling environmental challenges through community-driven, sustainable solutions. This legacy reflects its core mission. Endorsing waste-to-energy technologies promoted by institutions like the ADB would break from that tradition. It would signal a shift away from genuine, people-centered efforts toward approaches that do not advance real sustainability.”

Shey Levita, Campaigner for False Solutions, Ecowaste Coalition:

“It is troubling that RMAF would even consider waste-to-energy incineration as a solution to the plastics crisis. It is the old habit of hiding the problem instead of confronting its root causes. If RMAF wants to honor true Asian excellence, it should uplift community-led, Filipino-driven zero waste solutions, not props that enable shortcut thinking and more environmental harm.”

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Note to Editors

Full letter to the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation with the full list of signatories is available here.

Press contacts:

Robi Kate Miranda, robi@no-burn.org, Communications Officer for Campaigns, GAIA Asia Pacific
Eah Antonio, eah@breakfreefromplastic.org, Senior Communications Officer, #BreakFreeFromPlastic Asia Pacific

GAIA is a worldwide alliance of more than 1,000 grassroots groups, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in over 90 countries. With our work, we aim to catalyze a global shift towards environmental justice by strengthening grassroots social movements that advance solutions to waste and pollution. We envision a just, zero waste world built on respect for ecological limits and community rights, where people are free from the burden of toxic pollution, and resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped.

#BreakFreeFromPlastic is a global movement envisioning a future free from plastic pollution. Since its launch in 2016, more than 3,500 organizations representing millions of individual supporters around the world, have joined the movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics and push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. BFFP member organizations and individuals share the values of environmental protection and social justice, and work together through a holistic approach to bring about systemic change. This means tackling plastic pollution across the whole plastics value chain—from extraction to disposal—focusing on prevention rather than cure and providing effective solutions. www.breakfreefromplastic.org

As we mark GAIA’s twenty-fifth year, we’re taking a moment to honour the people, movements, and everyday acts of courage that shaped this global community. What began as a shared refusal to accept toxic, extractive systems has grown into a vibrant network pushing for justice, circularity, and care at every level.

To celebrate this milestone, Dr. Shahriar Hossain of the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in Bangladesh offers a poem that traces the quiet power of collective work from the ground up. It’s a reflection on how far we’ve come and a reminder of the roots that hold us steady as we face the years ahead.

Below is his tribute to the movement and everyone who has carried it forward.

Tide & Root: From Ash to Apples

Shahriar Hossain, Ph.D.

Twenty-five years — GAIA rose like tide and root,

quiet muscle, steady pulse, reclaiming our roots.

We flipped ash into seed; we refused to burn tomorrow;

we taught our children: refuse is not fate, but work to borrow.

Neighbors raised banners, set the kitchen table high —

grandmothers with compost scoops, youth mapping every by way.

We unmasked the smoke with stories, petitions, and hands;

we seized what was wasted and re-domesticated care in our lands.

From alley pots to island sands, our palms learned to sort and heal;

we composted histories and pressed them back into the soil.

Rubble of neglect became rich loam, rivers mended, markets steadied,

incinerators weakened as knowledge walked door to door, ready.

Repair, reuse, refuse — we rewove the small economies of home;

each household a workshop, each neighbor a step toward the comb.

A global choir — elders, youth, frontline keepers — braided practice into law;

this resistance cleared the air, cleaned our memory, demanded circular justice for all.

Twenty-five years of grit and grace: ash to apple, shame to neighborhood power.

Let the next decades be fuller, kinder, rooted in each home and hour.

Whole and together — we commit, we keep, we rise: we are the work, the promise, the morning’s steady prize.

In 2022, over 1 billion tonnes of food waste was produced worldwide—equivalent to around 132 kg per person. Food loss and waste is an urgent global issue with significant social, economic, and environmental implications. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, this represents an economic loss of more than 1 trillion dollars, affecting actors throughout the value chain, from small and large producers to vendors, distributors, and consumers. Outrageously, almost 800 million people suffer from hunger and 15 million children under five years old are malnourished.

Embracing zero waste strategies linked with food systems is not merely an option—it is necessary to achieve significant climate and social benefits for current and future generations. Strong political action is needed to put in motion a pathway to systemically address food loss and waste. The moment to take bold, decisive action is now. Learn how communities work together to prevent food loss and waste through zero waste practices, while reducing methane emissions and keeping global warming below 1.5°C.

CUTTING METHANE EMISSIONS THROUGH ZERO FOOD WASTE SYSTEMS

(EN) Cutting Methane Emissions through Zero Food Waste Systems

(ES) Reducción de las emisiones de metano mediante sistemas de desperdicio cero de alimentos

(ID) Mengurangi Emisi Metana melalui Sistem Zero Food Waste

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: FUNDACIÓN BASURA

(EN) Avoiding Food Waste in Weekly Outdoor Markets, Fundación Basura’s Experience in the Metropolitan Region, Chile

(ES) Evitando el desperdicio alimentario en ferias libres, experiencia de Fundación Basura en la Región Metropolitana, Chile

(ID) Upaya Pencegahan Sampah Makanan di Pasar Terbuka Mingguan, Pengalaman Fundación Basura di Wilayah Metropolitan, Chili

CASE STUDY: FUNDACIÓN BASURA (CHILE)

(EN) Chile Case Study – Avoiding Food Waste in Outdoor Markets, Fundación Basura’s Experience in the Metropolitan Region, Chile

(ES) Chile Estudios De Casos – Evitando el desperdicio alimentario en ferias libres, experiencia de Fundación Basura en la Región Metropolitana, Chile

CASE STUDY: GITA PERTIWI (INDONESIA)

(ES) Nourishing Communities: Gita Pertiwi’s Justice-Centered Food Sharing Model in Surakarta, Indonesia

(ID) Mensejahterakan Komunitas: Model Berbagi Makanan Berbasis Prinsip Keadilan oleh Gita Pertiwi di Surakarta, Indonesia

CASE STUDY: GREENERS ACTION (HONG KONG)

(EN) Feeding Communities, Cutting Emissions: How Greeners Action Turned Wet Market Surplus into Social Impact

(ES) Alimentar comunidades, reducir emisiones

[Simplified Chinese] 滋养社区，减少排放：
绿色行动如何将湿货市场剩余转化为社会影响力

[Traditional Chinese] 餵養社區，削減排放：綠色行動如何將濕貨市場剩餘物轉化為社會影響力

RESOURCES

Mandaluyong City, Philippines – 14 August 2025 – Today, environmental advocates and community members gathered outside the Asian Development Bank (ADB) headquarters to oppose the Bank’s proposed revisions to its Energy Policy. The changes are being introduced in a railroaded process and could lead to increased funding for waste incineration, mining, and nuclear power development, and other contentious energy projects across Asia.

The ADB is in the final stages of its midterm Energy Policy review, with the Board expected to vote on the updated policy in October 2025. Apart from failing to prioritize waste reduction, reuse, and recycling before burning waste for energy development as committed in the Bank’s Energy Policy, it is even expanding waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration. The Bank proposes to burn a fraction of waste in power plants called co-firing biofuels. GAIA says it delays the much-needed termination of coal plants, generates more greenhouse gases (GHG) and other toxic emissions, and disincentivizes efforts towards environmentally preferred methods in the waste hierarchy.

“We looked to the ADB to set an example in climate leadership and clean energy investment — not take us backward,” said Brex Arevalo, GAIA Asia Pacific’s Climate and Anti-incineration Campaigner. “The Bank’s willingness to support these false solutions shows a shocking disregard for resource conservation, health, and climate change. How many more resources will the ADB burn on a dying planet?”

The Bank also proposes repurposing coal plants into municipal WTE incineration facilities or to burn fully with biomass materials. “Given that even problematic waste streams with toxic content like processed plastic wastes and spent tires are now being considered as biomass, the Bank is wasting scarce public funds on prolonging the agony of coal-impacted communities by turning them into WTE plants ”, Arevalo said.

Attaching carbon capture storage facilities to WTE plants is also being proposed by the Bank. Another expensive and untested technology that only delays much-needed closure of high carbon-emitting technologies, according to Zero Waste Europe.

Community concerns aren’t just unfounded fears— they are supported by hard evidence. A recent citizen-led air quality study in Surabaya, Indonesia, Ogijo, Nigeria, and Dumaguete, Philippines, found particulate matter pollution near waste-burning plants reaching up to eight times above WHO safety limits. In Dumaguete, experts estimate shutting down a local pyrolysis-gasification plant could prevent nearly 180 premature deaths annually.

“These numbers represent people’s lives—children with breathing difficulties, farmers exposed to dangerous air, waste workers in the facility, and elders living in unsafe conditions,” said Merci Ferrer, Co-convenor of War on Waste-Break Free From Plastic (WoW-BFFP) Negros Oriental. “Communities have been ignored for too long, and the time for empty promises is over.” As a result of the study of WoW-BFFP Negros Oriental, the newly elected Dumaguete Mayor, Manuel Sagarbarria, has ordered the facility to stop its operations.

And, beyond air pollution, the health risks of waste incineration extend into the escalating climate crisis. Heatwaves — periods of unusually high temperatures — are becoming more frequent and deadly, especially in densely populated areas like Delhi, India. Between 2013 and 2022, over 10,600 deaths in India were attributed to heat-related causes, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and outdoor workers. WTE incinerators themselves contribute to this problem by releasing large amounts of heat during their high-temperature processes.

Protesters demanded that the ADB immediately phase out its support for WTE incineration and other false solutions and instead back proven, community-centered approaches: reducing waste before it’s created, composting organic waste to cut methane emissions, and investing in clean, renewable energy that protects both people and the environment.

In the past year alone, other international financial institutions like the World Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) had terminated several proposed WTE incineration projects due to their high risks from community resistance to lack of financial viability.

“Energy Policy Review for this year, rushed by the ADB, only shows how corporate interests are being put on the pedestal over people and the planet,” said Nazareth Del Pilar of NGO Forum on ADB. “Instead of closing gaps in its policy, the Bank is slipping in dangerous provisions that deepen debt, sideline human rights, and abandon justice-centered solutions.”

PHOTOS HERE

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