Products delivered in the millions by companies in the zillion are already on the double.
Delivery happens via plane, train, or truck, to almost definitely generate waste in packaging, plastics, and/or styrofoam, and more.
We simply accumulate way, way too much trash.
- What is the Zero-waste Movement? Definition & Ideology
- Zero-waste Movement & Impact
- Zero-waste Movement Statistics:
- How Large is the Zero-waste Movement
- How Many People Are in the Zero-waste Movement
- Zero-waste Movement Leaders
- Zero Waste Movement Roots
- Zero Waste Movement History
- 1950s Post-war America
- 1970s Zero Waste Systems
- 1980s Urban Ore & Recycling
- 1990s No Waste & GRRN
- 1995 Grassroots Recycling Network (GRN)
- 1996 Australian “No Waste By 2010” Bill
- 2002 Zero Waste International Alliance
- 2004 New GRRN Business Principles, 3rd ZWIA Dialog
- 2010’s Zero Waste to Lifestyle
- Zero Waste Nowadays
- Types/Some Popular Divisions
- Zero-Waste Business
- Remarks
Good news is, the zero-waste future is not only possible but also inevitable in a crowded world such as ours.
What is the Zero-waste Movement? Definition & Ideology
Zero-waste activism becomes cumulative.
Remember, respect, refuse, reduce, reuse, return, refill, rot, restore, repurpose, repair, recycle.
The zero-waste movement has a holistic approach to the mismanagement of solid waste as civic engagement and sub-activism to link acts of mundane citizenship, lifestyle decisions, and social mechanisms to support the none-waste lifestyle and cause.
A zero-waste society embraces anti-consumerism to eliminate trash output. No plastic, no wrappers, cut-out disposable packaging, no garbage, no nothing. Zero trash to landfills.
The rationale for joining the zero-waste movement has its roots in a palette of virtues ranging from climate and environmental awareness to animal welfare, personal health, personal experience, education, self-motivation, a need to change the world, or a combo of distinct lifestyles such as veganism, organic foodies, or minimalist all bound by the rewarding feeling of accomplishment for being a good example.
– Mette Pedersen
The zero-waste movement embodies a radical democratic model manifested in consumer responsibility. Small, ordinary acts for sustainability grounded in the individual’s principles and morale are an important dimension of democracy.
Mundane citizenship empowers the average person with zero connection to political organizations, NGOs, or social movements to engage, take part, and bring change.
Zero-waste Movement & Impact
Zero Waste, Jump Start Jobs, No Welfare for Wasting, Zero Waste by 2040, Organics Out of Landfills, No Burn, No Bury, and No Toxics, are just some initiatives because of the movement.
According to Richard Anthony from ZWIA, activism lives in Brazil, Canada, England, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, India, Italy, the Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, the USA, and Wales.
ZWIA’s global programs promote cooperation with local governments, activist groups, student and professional organizations encouraging people to build & implement no-waste manners to serve the design of resource administration systems towards the reduction of trash.
The zero-waste movement is promoting the reform of the individual’s lifestyle, as the impact comes in size.
NGO Urban Ore estimates to divert over 8,000 tons of waste away from landfills per year.
Based on self-learning and study on plastic harm, followers foster educated and conscious choices for daily grocery shopping, hygiene, and household products.
Zero-waste Movement Statistics:
- 3.5 million tons of plastic and other solid waste daily worldwide headed to 7.5 million by the end of the century.
- Zero-waste lifestyles correspond with mounting evidence climate change will be the defining event of this century.
- 4.7 to 12.8 million metric tons of plastic in the oceans.
- 60% of clothing is synthetic plastic fibers and upon washing releases microplastics.
- 23% of landfill waste is packaging and containers.
- the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a damning report that revealed just 100 companies are responsible for 71 percent of global climate emissions (most are oil & gas companies like ExxonMobil, Shell, and BP).
- in 2016, transport overhauled the previously #1 carbon dioxide emitter – power plants with a 1/4 from medium- to heavy-duty delivery trucks.
- 42% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the production and use of daily goods, such as food and domestic products.
- 18 billion pounds worth of plastic waste flows into the oceans each year
- Landfills are changing and destroying animals’ natural habitats. Clearing land via deforestation to extend landfills ruins the homes of hundreds of species. Loss of habitat is one of the largest threats to 85% of the species in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, according to WWF.
- Half of all 8,300 million tonnes of plastic ever produced was made in the past 13 years and of all plastic that’s ever been discarded, only roughly 9% has been recycled.
- average American tosses about 4.4 pounds of trash per day or between 1,500 and 1,600 pounds of waste per year.
- 10,000 tons of waste per day at a large US landfill.
- 75% to 80% of all domestic waste is an organic matter you can compost.
How Large is the Zero-waste Movement
As of today, there are over 1,100 000 pages on the web talking about zero-waste
How Many People Are in the Zero-waste Movement
We grow by the hour!
Zero-waste Movement Leaders
Shifting approach and concept of trash, the zero-waste leaders teach the world.
“Zero-waste is the only strategy that can save these legendary seabirds and the oceans where they feed and breed.”
– Charles Moore, author of Plastic Ocean
“A practical theory of how to wring maximum efficiency from the use of resources”.
– Paul Palmer, PhD chemist & founder of Zero Waste Systems Inc
However, he also points out that zero-waste is not a lifestyle choice because individual choices will not affect large, social change. Zero-waste is about reusing everything repeatedly in order to reduce waste, which can only be done if reuse is implemented into the design.
“Each community victory against incineration and for Zero Waste is a victory for all of us’’
– Rossano Ercolini, a school teacher from Capanori, Italy, and that country’s leading Zero Waste advocate awarded the 2014 Goldman Prize for Environmental Leadership in Europe. “Like democracy the Zero Waste movement is built on many small meetings with neighbors and peers.”
Zero Waste Movement Roots
Who started the zero waste movement and when did the zero waste lifestyle movement start?
Prior to the industrial revolution, the no-waste philosophy was integral to humanity starting from pre-modern times all the way back to ancient civilizations. As a matter of fact, people living back then would condemn the wasteful life we have now. That being said, the essence of the zero-waste life has its roots in the dawn of humanity.
Still, considering the ongoing state of dross, there are a few organizations and notable people who push the zero-waste movement forward today.
Who Started the Zero-waste Movement?
The first and most popular mention comes from Mr. Paul Palmer. A Ph.D. chemist, who founded the Zero Waste Systems Inc. company in California (USA).
Although not like the ideology it is today, that’s the oldest mention we have.
When Did the Zero-waste Movement Start?
Modern historians consider the first Zero Waste Conference held in December 2000 in Kataia, New Zealand.
Zero Waste Movement History
The popular no-waste movement derived from the bigger movement environmentalism.
According to Merriam-Webster, it is “advocacy of the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environment.” and dates back to ancient Rome, but modern zero-waste kicks off in the 19th century.
1950s Post-war America
It’s when US propaganda established unnecessary consumerism and the foundation of the modern economy. Although just a few, some saw the upcoming pollution from reckless consumerism.
1970s Zero Waste Systems
Paul Palmer, a Ph.D. chemist, founded the company Zero Waste Systems Inc. in California, US.
1980s Urban Ore & Recycling
Daniel Knapp’s concept of Total Recycling.
The Knapp family established the legendary Urban Ore salvaging operation and market in a building meant as a trash incinerator. The project demonstrates that communities can reuse junk otherwise sent to landfill
In parallel, people across the US embraced composting, recycling, and sustainable waste management, while structures like the National Coalition Against Mass Burn Incineration and Safe Alternatives and the Sound Resource Management Group grew awareness of trash management practices.
1990s No Waste & GRRN
Daniel Knapp, the guy responsible for the concept of Total Recycling spreading as far as Australia in 1995, and a key activist of the Zero Waste No Waste lifestyle.
“I was at the Australian Institute of Recycling in Canberra when I first heard of the concept,” he says. “It was in 1993 and they were trying to convince me that recycling could be profitable. I was an engineer with a strong background in product design and I knew that a lot of materials were wasted or lost.”
Knapp presented the never-been-seen-before Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT) “No Waste by 2010” initiative.
1995 Grassroots Recycling Network (GRN)
In 1995, Lynn Landes launched the Zero Waste USA website, with the sole purpose of encouraging society to change its waste practices and adopt more environmentally friendly waste disposal habits.
In 1995, the GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN) organization waste was established by Bill Sheehan.
Zero waste legislation became a fact in the US by the late 90’s. Working in cooperation with Bill Sheehan & GRRN, a Senator from Georgia by the name of Donzella James put forward a paper aiming at no waste stats by 2020 that later on became history.
The Nationwide Recycling Coalition (NRC) was formed as a response to the NRC’s sluggish progress toward a national recycling movement.
Corporate interests opposed Grass Roots’ desire for more in the NRC. Zero Waste became the main pitch of GRRN within a few months. Zero Waste USA is the former name of GRNN.
1996 Australian “No Waste By 2010” Bill
In 1996, the Australian capital of Canberra became the first city to report chasing a zero-waste goal. The local government declared the “No Waste by 2010” bill.
At that time, about half of the municipalities in New Zealand and San Francisco have adopted some form of no-waste program, and many communities around the globe are taking independent zero-waste approaches in their district.
2002 Zero Waste International Alliance
An individual named Richard Anthony was examining papers for a forthcoming conference on resources at that time. Papers concentrated on rubbish incineration, but not the main issue: waste as a social problem. He noted this.
As a result, he decided to hold a zero-waste workshop at the conference. With his team of acquaintances, he went to the event. Dr. Daniel Knapp was one of the members of a dream team, which also included other scientists, waste management experts, and environmental activists.
After a successful conference, the group immediately flew to the United Kingdom for another. Many environmentalists opposed to landfills and incinerators attended this gathering.
Many decision-makers throughout the globe were drawn to the idea of zero waste and news attracted more environmentalists to the cause.
The Zero Waste International Alliance (ZIWA) was formed as a result of the efforts of a growing group of international conference planners who were united by their passion and ability
ZERO WASTE is defined by ZIWA as:
“The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production and consumption, reuse, and recovery of goods and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that damage the environment or human health.”
Their objective is clear. For governments, waste management teams, and enterprises, ZIWA provides principles and standards for the development of zero waste across the globe. It’s all history now!
2004 New GRRN Business Principles, 3rd ZWIA Dialog
The third ZWIA dialog principles proposed by Gary Liss and accepted by the ZWIA have been renamed the GRRN business principles. ZWIA’s third discourse in San Francisco attracted more than 300 representatives from across the globe in the same year.
2010’s Zero Waste to Lifestyle
The zero waste idea had gone from the hands of professionals, legislators, and activists into the public by the second decade of the new century.
Bea Johnson, a French-American lady residing in California, is generally regarded for kickstarting the zero-waste lifestyle movement, beginning small with her family of four and documenting her experience by blogging at her Zero Waste Home blog.
She earned a spot in the New York Times in 2010, and in 2013 her book “Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life by Reducing Your Waste” came out. The methodology system brought together the 5Rs technique (an upgrade of reduce, reuse, recycle). Its value in fostering lifestyle on an individual level cannot be overstated, and her zero-waste approach still impacts billions worldwide.
Zero Waste Nowadays
Currently, there are numerous blogs sharing tips for a more sustainable life, including ours Escape Waste. More and more people are implementing green practices and swapping plastic everyday products for reusable ones. Small changes can have a great impact.
Types/Some Popular Divisions
- Zero waste movement and food
- Zero waste to landfill movement
- Student-led zero-waste movement
- Airline zero waste movement
Zero-Waste Business
A zero-waste business eliminates single-use items such as clothes, food, and other packaging, bottles, cosmetics, paper, and organic leftovers via alternative plastic-free and sustainable products.
Garbage incinerators cause severe air pollution and ash, which still need a landfill. If you want to do what’s right, then teach yourself, friends, and family why reducing waste matters.
Learn more from our guide on: Zero Waste Business
Remarks
The fundamental goal of the no-waste lifestyle is not only to keep garbage out of landfills, but to “redesign our whole cycle of resource extraction, consumption, and discard disposal in such a manner that no resources are wasted along the way.”