FORUM: “Towards zero waste in fashion and textiles.” International Day of Zero Waste 2025. This year, for the first time, the day will be observed to shed light on the environmental and social challenges caused by the sector's linear business model, which drives overproduction and overconsumption. The textile sector embodies the whole waste agenda - from the importance of bolstering waste management globally to the need to reduce waste generation and promote sustainable consumption and production patterns. Every year the textile sector is estimated to be responsible for 2-8% of global GHG emissions, the use of 215 trillion litres of water (the equivalent of 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools), and 9% of annual microplastic pollution to oceans. These staggering figures highlight the unsustainable practices driving the industry, where every second, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothing is incinerated or sent to landfills around the world, causing significant environmental, economic and social impacts, especially in the global south. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #sdg12, #zerowasteDay, #30March.
EVENTS: The New York Observance of Zero Waste 2025, facilitated in-person, serves as a platform to underscore the critical importance of collective action in driving forward zero-waste initiatives, with a focus on fashion and textile waste.
- Increase knowledge about the environmental and social impacts of fashion and textile waste and the potential of zero-waste solutions to promote sustainability and equity.
- To inspire governments, producers, and consumers to embrace sustainable and circular practices, rethink manufacturing and consumption, reduce waste, and re-cover value from discarded textiles by showcasing initiatives and success stories in waste management, particularly in textiles and fashion, from Member States, young entrepreneurs and communities' initiatives.
- Promote zero-waste initiatives through this international day can help advance all the goals and targets in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including Sustainable Development Goal 11 and Sustainable Development Goal 12. These goals address all forms of waste, including food loss and waste, natural resource extraction and electronic waste.
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Worldwide observance of the International Day of Zero Waste 2025. To celebrate the third annual International Day of Zero Waste, offices and partners from around the world are invited to organize activities and events, including creative exhibits, panel discussions, social media campaigns, training sessions and waste collection drives. Explore the list of upcoming worldwide activities, conferences and workshops and the events maps!
The following flagship events will be organized by UNEP, UN-Habitat, and partners.
25 March | Room XXIII, Palais des Nations, Geneva | 1515-1630 hrs CET
International Day of Zero Waste Celebration in Geneva.
To celebrate the 2025 edition of International Day of Zero Waste, leading voices from Geneva and beyond joining the panel of this event will highlight steps taken to move forward the zero-waste agenda and key initiatives to reduce the waste impact from the fashion and textile sector, promoting sustainability and circularity.
– 27 March | UN Office at Nairobi | 1700-1830 hrs EAT
International Day of Zero Waste 2025 Observance in Nairobi.
– 27 March | UN General Assembly Hall, New York | 1500-1800 EDT
International Day of Zero Waste 2025 Commemoration at United Nations Headquarters in New York
– 28-29 March | EDHEC Business School, Paris.
– 30-31 March | Zhejiang and Jiangxi Provinces & Online | 0900-1840 hrs GMT+8
International Day of Zero Waste 2025: Innovative Solutions for Achieving Zero Waste in China and Beyond.
– 4 April | Global Youth Webinar
Africa, Europe, Asia: 1300-1430 hrs (GMT+3)
Latin America and the Caribbeans: 0900-1030 hrs (GMT-5)
This Global Youth Webinar will bring together youth participants from diverse backgrounds, fostering cross-regional collaboration and the exchange of innovative ideas. By leveraging digital platforms, UNEP aims to ensure inclusive participation, enabling young changemakers from all corners of the world to contribute to the zero-waste movement and drive impactful change within the fashion industry.
PUBLICATIONS: Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 - In response to Resolution 2/7 from the second session (UNEP/EA.2/RES.7) of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) and reaffirmed in Resolution 4/7 from its fourth session (UNEP/EA.4/RES.7). Jointly published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), the Global Waste Management Outlook 2024 report provides an update on global waste generation and the cost of waste and its management. Municipal solid waste generation is predicted to grow from 2.3 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050. Only 62 percent of this waste is managed in controlled facilities. Some 2.7 billion people lack access to solid waste collection. Download the report.
STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the United Nations Secretary-general on behalf the International Day of Zero waste 2025.
Mr. President, Madame First Lady, Excellencies, Dear Friends,
The waste crisis is an issue that goes to the heart of how we produce, and how we consume.
And one that requires action at every level – local, national, and global.
This year’s International Day focuses on fashion and textiles.
And rightly so.
Unless we accelerate action, dressing to kill could kill the planet.
Textile production often uses thousands of chemicals – many of them harmful to people and the environment.
It devours resources like land and water – putting pressure on ecosystems.
And it belches out greenhouse gases – inflaming the climate crisis.
Clothes are being produced and discarded at a staggering rate – driven by business models that prioritize newness, speed, and disposability.
Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothing is incinerated or sent to landfill.
Excellencies, Dear Friends,
Fashion is just the tip of a toxic iceberg.
Waste is an issue in every sector.
Every year, humanity produces over two billion tonnes of garbage.
If you pack all that into shipping containers stacked end to end, they would stretch to the moon and back.
Here on Earth, toxin-filled waste is seeping into our soil, our water, and our air. And ultimately into us.
As usual, the poorest pay the highest price.
More than one billion people live in slums and informal urban settlements, where waste management is non-existent and disease runs rampant.
The rich world is flooding the Global South with garbage, from obsolete computers to single-use plastic and more.
Many nations do not have the infrastructure to process even a fraction of what is dumped on their shores.
As a result, materials that could be recycled are burned or sent to landfill.
And waste pickers are exposed to toxic chemicals as they sift through potentially hazardous materials, including broken electronics, in appalling conditions.
Excellencies, Dear Friends,
We need a different approach: one that delivers on the commitment in the Sustainable Development Goals for sustainable production and consumption.
And there are signs of hope.
Change is possible. And it presents exciting opportunities.
In fashion, for example, designers are experimenting with recycled materials.
Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainability.
In many countries, resale markets are booming.
And important initiatives are bringing together large and small businesses, industry associations, civil society and many others to drive sustainability across the sector.
They include the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, and the Fashion Pact.
We must celebrate the power of these innovations to transform the industry.
But we need more.
And we need change in every sector.
I welcome the work of the Chair and the First Lady and members of the United Nations Advisory Board on Zero Waste to raise awareness, and help meet the SDGs.
The fight against waste requires us all.
Governments must act:
Through policies, regulations and subsidies:
That promote sustainability, and zero waste initiatives…
That encourage businesses to adopt positive practices…
That provide decent jobs…
And that empower everyone – not just the wealthy – to afford products that last.
The current negotiations for a legally binding treaty to end plastic pollution – due in August this year – are a key opportunity for governments to drive progress.
I urge them to take it…
And to translate any treaty into action to support consumers to make environmentally friendly choices, and into a clear roadmap across industries.
Addressing plastic pollution must be at the core of corporate responsibility.
There is no space for greenwashing.
Businesses must increase circularity, waste reduction and resource efficiency across their supply chains.
We need accountability for corporate sustainability commitments.
We need transparency for customers.
And we need consumers to use their purchasing power to encourage change:
Reducing excessive consumption, valuing products that last, and embracing exchanges and resales.
And we need young people and civil society to keep using their voices and power to demand change through advocacy.
Excellencies, Dear Friends,
We must build on progress, to end the waste practices wasting our planet.
On this International Day, let us commit to do our part to clean up our act, and build a healthier, more sustainable world for us all.
And I thank you.
United Nations Secretary-General.
Learn about the 5 ideas to reduce waste in the fashion industry.
Reports
- Sustainability and Circularity in the Textile Value Chain - A Global Roadmap from UNEP
- The Sustainable Fashion Communication Playbook from UNEP
- Rescuing SDG 11 for a resilient urban planet from UN-Habitat
Livestream:
Documents
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