Inspiring Zero Waste Solutions to Curb Global Waste Growth
One Planet network - 10YFP
The One Planet network implements the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP).
March 2024 - One Planet network - 10YFP Monthly Update
Our latest monthly update from the One Planet Network occurs on the International Day for Zero Waste, observed annually on 30 March.
Zero Waste represents a powerful shift in how we approach Sustainable Consumption and Production, looking upon waste not as trash to be thrown away at harm to society but as a vital circular economy component. This day provides the opportunity to spotlight not only the sustainable waste management strategies that minimize and prevent waste generation, but also to highlight the health, environmental, and economic benefits that the Zero Waste transformation brings to Sustainable Consumption and Production.
Each year, Zero Waste Day provides a great opportunity to underscore the significance of zero waste practices and to celebrate and disseminate impactful ideas aimed at creating a world without waste. In this month’s newsletter we are pleased to spotlight inspiring zero waste efforts and ideas alongside updates from across our programmes.
Inspiring Zero Waste action from across our network:
Zero-waste initiatives can foster sound waste management and minimize and prevent waste, helping to address the triple planetary crisis, protect the environment, enhance food security and improve human health and well-being.
The UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Zero Waste have recently been gathering innovative waste management initiatives, best practices, and success stories to raise awareness and inspire action towards achieving zero waste.
Our network has been well represented within the submissions with many inspiring ideas and actions which we have added to our Zero Waste Knowledge Hub website, three of which are delighted to spotlight in this newsletter:
From glass waste to wealth! - (Oman)
Transforming glass waste into wealth, Six Senses Zighy Bay’ in Oman showcases a pioneering approach to zero waste. With no suitable public recycling provision available in the region, the resort collects, crushes, and melts glass onsite; not only preventing 100% of its glass waste from reaching landfills but also engaging guests in recycling activities and creating new products for its restaurants in the process.
With over 4,300 kg of glass recycled in 2023 alone, this project significantly reduces environmental impact by investing in machinery and internalizing the entire process, complemented with education on sustainable practices, and resulting products turning trash into value; the resort sets a model for waste management and building resilient infrastructure.
The initiative demonstrates replicability and scalability, with potential applications in remote locations and developing countries. By engaging stakeholders and implementing innovative waste reduction strategies, Six Senses Zighy Bay’ sets a precedent for accountable and sustainable tourism practices, with a budget of over 20,000 USD invested in equipment and ongoing maintenance. This exemplary project not only achieves zero glass waste but also inspires broader action towards a circular economy and sustainable consumption worldwide.
Five-fold Income Expansion for Aged Women through Cassava Peel Recycling for Animal Feed - (Nigeria)
Revolutionizing cassava waste management, the ‘Five-fold Income Expansion for Aged Women through Cassava Peel Recycling for Animal Feed (FINTRAFs)’ project empowers indigenous women in Nigeria's Adeta community through cassava peel recycling for animal feed.
With support from diverse stakeholders, including the US Embassy and local ministries, this initiative provides machinery and training to transform cassava peels into nutritious animal feed, combating poverty, food insecurity, and waste simultaneously by generating income and promoting sustainability.
Key activities included community engagement, renovating the Train-Work-Reskill (TREF) Bundle Lab, and installing cassava processing machines. Beneficiaries were meticulously selected, and within five months, 500 women were economically empowered.
These innovative strategies ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth, setting a strong foundation for future growth and offering an inspiring and replicable model for community empowerment and waste reduction worldwide.
Plastic Free Balearics – (Balearic Islands)
Encouraging the reducing of hospitality sector single-use plastic in the Balearic Islands, Plastic Free Balearics (website) has been supporting Sustainable Consumption and Production by providing tools for businesses to find eco-friendly alternatives to aid waste elimination.
Incentivizing businesses to adopt eco-friendly practices aimed at removing waste and conserving marine resources, the intiative promotes research and development in waste reduction, ensuring accountability through regular assessments and certifications.
The initiative collaborates with stakeholders such as 'IbizaPreservation’, ‘Save the Med’, and ‘BeMed: Beyond Plastic Med’, and has received funding and support from prominent musicians such as ‘Depeche Mode’. With a budget of approximately €115k, 'Plastic Free Balearics’ implements actions like certification development, utilizing the ‘Honest Alternatives to Plastics Index (HAPI)’ for assessments. Its outcomes include certifying over 100 businesses and reducing 30,467 kg of plastic waste by the end of 2023.
By offering tools and methods applicable globally, especially in tourist-centric areas, it offers replicability and scalability opportunities, whilst delivering impact locally to support businesses adopt Sustainable Consumption and Production practices and approaches.
Find these stories and more in our Zero Waste Knowledge Hub, an ever-growing repository featuring over 400 ideas and success stories from across the world:
In addition to these stories, the UN Environment Programme has been collating Zero Waste Day events taking place across the globe:
Beyond an age of waste: turning rubbish into a resource
The generation of unsustainable waste continues to increase at great cost and risk to society, yet a circular economy approach that transforms waste into a valuable resource could resolve this crisis and unlock economic potential, according to a new report from the UN Environment Programme .
Without action harmful waste practices could cost hundreds of billions more to manage yet transforming our approaches by minimising waste and treating as a circular economy resource can result in a net gain of over $100bn. Presenting a compelling alternative to the current unsustainable trajectory, reports call for urgent action on several fronts.
Food Waste Index Report 2024:
On 27 March 2024, the UN Environment Programme released its latest Food Waste Index Report, revealing staggering figures: over 1 billion meals wasted daily in 2022 while millions suffer from hunger worldwide. With 60% of food waste occurring at the household level, urgent action is imperative.
The report underscores the economic and environmental toll of food waste, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change. Public-private partnerships emerge as a potent tool for driving progress, with success stories from Japan and the UK showcasing the potential for meaningful reductions.
Further, the report emphasises that strengthening data infrastructure and fostering global cooperation are vital steps towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 - calling for a halving of food waste at the retail and consumer levels.
Supporting Circularity in Local and Regional Governments: new handbooks to supporting circular construction and bio-waste management
Local and regional governments are being supported with practical and insightful solutions to transform waste management practices in new handbooks focused on circular construction and bio-waste management.
These resources - supported by the CityLoops project, funded by the EU and coordinated by ICLEI Europe (website) - unveil strategies and insights learned from cities such as Apeldoorn, Bodø, Mikkeli, Porto, Seville, Høje-Taastrup, and Roskilde, which have delivered circularity successes that can be replicated elsewhere.
Updates from across the One Planet Network:
Sustainable Food Systems: Continuing to seize the opportunity provided by food systems transformation at UNEA-6:
In advance of the 6th session of the UN Environment Assembly, the Sustainable Food Systems Programme supported UN Member States negotiators brief document with guidance on how to strengthen the environmental dimension of food systems in four key resolutions.
Agriculture and food systems have also become the source of around 1/3 of greenhouse gas emissions, a main driver of biodiversity loss, and of various forms of pollution. The urgency of transforming food systems globally by shifting towards more sustainable consumption and production patterns has been increasingly recognized over recent years, as reflected by a number of international resolutions and decisions, including the UNEA-4 Ministerial Declaration.
The text’s recommendations aimed to both strengthen the UN Environment Programme’s mandate as well as strengthen Member States capacities and encourage them to integrate food systems considerations into relevant environmental policies and integrate environmental targets into policies related to food and agriculture both at international and at national level.
‘Future Food Together’:
WWF 's 'Future Food Together’ initiative has successfully completed its first phase, collaborating with teams across Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Colombia, and Paraguay. The 'South-South Exchange' facilitated efficient teamwork, resulting in a comprehensive report highlighting the imperative need for transforming food systems.
Key lessons learned include the importance of holistic approaches for smallholder farmers, proactive engagement with the food sector for sustainability, and recognizing the multifaceted nature of consumer behavior. The initiative now enters its second phase, focusing on Thailand and Cambodia, aiming to implement coordinated actions for sustainable consumption and production practices.
“The concept of sustainable consumption and production of food is very relevant to a country like the Philippines given its vulnerability to the effects of climate change, its growing population, its promising economic development, and its natural resources. Let us be responsible with our resources, support local products, reject unnecessary plastic, increase our consumption of plant-based foods, and avoid food waste at all costs. Food is a valuable resource, and yet it is also a major contributor to the degradation of nature. It is up to us which way we want to go in the future, but choosing SCP with every bite of food we consume makes all the difference today and in the future.”
– Melody Melo-Rijk, Project Manager, WWF-Philippines
For a quick overview, download the detailed report here. Together, WWF and its partners are working towards a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable future for food.
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Consumer Information for SCP
Call For Proposals: Promoting Ecolabels and Sustainable Public Procurement In the Building and Construction Sector
The Consumer Information Programme of the One Planet network (OPN) and the EcoAdvance project, in partnership with the Sustainable Public Procurement Programme of the One Planet network are launching a call for proposals. Its main objective is to increase the use of ecolabels (ISO 14024) and promote sustainable public procurement (SPP) as tools to improve climate mitigation, biodiversity, and resource protection in the building and construction sector.
The call for proposal will support initiatives from developing countries or emerging economies (except the five target countries in Latin America) working in the building and construction sector to:
This initiative is receiving financial support from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and has been launched at the Buildings and Climate Global Forum thanks to the support of the French Government.
Deadline for submission of proposals: 12 April 2024
Watch our UNEA6 session on Sustainable Consumption for Biodiversity - Unleashing the Power of GBF Targets 15 and 16:
Our engaging expert panel on ‘Sustainable Consumption for Biodiversity: Unleashing the Power of GBF Targets 15 and 16’ met during UNEA6 to discuss the urgent need for a shift towards sustainable consumption patterns to address the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss.
Organized by Consumers International , in partnership with the Consumer Information Programme of the One Planet network, Forest Stewardship Council and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development BioTrade Initiative.
Moderated by Martina Fleckenstein, WWF Global Policy Director at WWF International
Speakers included:
Highlights from the Consumer Information Global Conference 2023:
Our recently released report covers the Consumer Information Global Conference 2023: Ecolabel and Sustainable Public Procurement which took place in Bogota, Colombia, on the 14th and 15th of November, 2023.
Bringing experts together, the event encouraged discussions, sharing of knowledge, facilitated exchanges of experiences, and identified ways to foster the use of ecolabels and sustainable public procurement as tools to address the triple planetary crisis.
The recently released survey of participants demonstrates Ecolabelling benefits from diverse engagement, that such events are increasing understanding, and that there is a growing interest in furthering these discussions. Find out more about the detailed sessions and participants in our final report.
Highlights from the Consumer Information Global Conference 2023:
From 6th to the 8th December 2023, the Consumers International quadrennial Congress brought together over 600 experts and advocates online and in-person in Nairobi, Kenya. Here, it shone a light on how to address the plastic crisis with and for consumers. In a high-level session, leaders addressed critical questions against the backdrop of ongoing global negotiations on a binding plastics treaty. What subsidies and incentives are needed for consumers? How can credible and clear information make recycling the norm? Members and those most influential to the negotiations united for urgent action.
Speakers included Sheila Aggarwal-Khan Director, Industry and Economy Division United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Christian de Boer , Managing Director of Jaya House Hotels ; Daudi Sumba, Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa at WWF International; Saroja Sundaram, Executive Director of Citizen consumer and civic Action Group (CAG); and H.E. Arnaud Suquet, Ambassador of France to Kenya and Somalia.
Honest dialogue highlighted challenges, the vitality of an ambitious legal treaty to address the crisis, and the catalysing role consumer advocates can play in conveying the consumer story and the barriers they face in avoiding plastic use.
The session builds on Consumers International’s ongoing work influencing negotiations on a binding global plastics treaty. This year, Consumers International and its members will continue to influence discussions, taking to the stage at plastics negotiations ‘INC-4’ in April and ‘INC-5’ in November.
Recruitment for 10YFP Junior Professional Officer:
Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection are pleased to announce a job opportunity as a JPO Associate Programme Officer for the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (10YFP)/One Planet Network at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This position is based in the Division of Technology, Industry and Economy in Paris, France.
Sustainable Public Procurement
Framework for Circular and Fair ICT Procurement:
In 2023, the Circular & Fair ICT (CFIT) Pact (website) achieved a significant milestone by releasing its framework for Circular and Fair ICT Procurement. Dedicated to advancing sustainable practices in the production and utilization of ICT products through strategic procurement, CFIT outlined ambitions across four core themes: buying less, buying better, using better, and using longer. These strategies include specific commitments for organizations, participating in the ICT Pact, to incorporate into their procurement practices.
To illustrate the practical application of these commitments, the CFIT secretariat began publishing case studies. These real-world examples provide insights into the implementation of CFIT principles, serving as a resource for organizations looking to adopt sustainable procurement practices.
The initial case studies released over the second half of 2023 offer a glimpse into the diverse approaches taken, with more examples anticipated in 2024 to contribute to the ongoing refinement of circular and fair ICT procurement standards.
Would you like to know more about how organizations are creatively practicing sustainable procurement for ICT products and services? The case studies are available in the CFIT website!
Public procurement: a strategic tool for a green, inclusive, and innovative Europe:
Public authorities increasingly see strategic public procurement as a key tool for supporting environmental, social, economic and innovation policy goals. This shift away from a purely administrative to purchasing, towards a more strategic and needs-driven one means that “certain regulatory frameworks need to be readjusted to promote a more holistic approach to public procurement, as currently most policies are not developed to ensure coherence across various policy areas and procurement legislations. This is one of the key points raised by ICLEI Europe’s Sustainable and Innovation Procurement Team, in an article written for European Public Mosaic, an open journal focusing on public service.
Sustainable Tourism
Glasgow Declaration Implementation Report 2023:
The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, a commitment by stakeholders in the tourism sector to advance efforts in mitigating climate change and promoting sustainability within the industry, has launched its 2023 Implementation Report. Following a presentation of results during COP28, the report was launched at the end of January at the International Tourism fair, FITUR .
The Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism Implementation Report 2023 presents the results of a systematic review of all progress updates received from signatories during the first reporting exercise conducted between January and June 2023 (over 400 updates), which in many cases include the submission of a Climate Action Plan (over 250 plans).
The report represents a first-of-its-kind picture of the rapidly developing engagement of the tourism sector with the challenges of climate action. It captures the ways that plans are being created; the approaches taken to selecting and designing actions; challenges and opportunities connected to the different pathways of the Declaration (measure, decarbonize, regenerate, collaborate and finance); the collaborations undertaken to support progress; and the structures put in place to ensure delivery.
Providing a comprehensive overview of the progress made in advancing climate action within the tourism sector, the report reveals that 420 signatories have submitted reports with more than half of those signatories also submitting a Climate Action Plan; 70% of those signatories are also demonstrating how they measure CO2 emissions linked to either some or all of their operations.
Despite advancements, there remain obstacles concerning the financing of climate commitments and the assurance of implementation accountability. Numerous signatories point to the ongoing financial repercussions of COVID-19, underscoring the necessity for heightened awareness and support for funding mechanisms. Additionally, there is a rising acknowledgment of the significance of incorporating climate considerations into financial strategies and embracing more sustainable practices, hinting at a potential shift towards more holistic climate action planning in future.
Costa Rica and Colombia sign Global Tourism Plastic initiative:
During the International Tourism Fair in Madrid (Fitur 2024), Costa Rica and Colombia were the newest signatories to the Global Tourism Plastic Initiative, a collaborative effort uniting over 200 organizations, from destinations and businesses to NGOs and academics, in a common goal to eliminate plastic waste and transition to a circular economy.
GTPI signatories work towards actions such as ditching single-use plastics, increasing recycled content, and boosting recycling rates. They receive valuable support in return, including knowledge sharing, collaboration tools, and progress tracking.
Alongside signing the GTPI, Costa Rica also became the newest signatory to the Glasgow Declaration.
New training to support businesses ditch single-use plastics:
The Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) is launching a dedicated work stream to help businesses ditch single-use plastics and embrace reusable alternatives.
This initiative targets hotels, hostels, cruise lines, and tour operators, offering them the tools and support they need to make the switch. From training sessions on identifying reusable solutions to case studies and communication tips, GTPI empowers businesses to reduce their plastic footprint while potentially saving money and demonstrating their commitment to climate action.
Designed for the GTPI business signatories, the work stream offers collective trainings on identification of reusable solutions, staff engagement and communication to customers.
Got something for the newsletter? Please contact gary.paterson@un.org
Managing Director of Jaya House Hotels - #SingleUsePlastic free since 2016, Co-founder of RefillNotLandfill
9moTeam Jaya House Hotels believes we can make the complete #tourism industry #singleUsePlastic Free by January 1 2025 ... All is takes is a little bit of sincere action. Guests love it, guests want it.