Organized by the Zero Waste Foundation under the patronage of Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the United Nations (UN), the International Zero Waste Forum was held at the Istanbul Hilton Bomonti Conference Center on October 17-19, 2025. Held for the first time this year, the forum served as an important meeting point for sustainability, circular economy, and climate-friendly policies worldwide.
The forum featured over 60 speakers, more than 100 country representatives, 118 institutions and organizations, and UN officials. Representatives from public institutions, the private sector, academia, local governments, and civil society evaluated globally applicable policies and strategies in the field of zero waste.
The closing ceremony of the forum was attended by Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, İbrahim Yumaklı, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jean Todt, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, and Nga Kor Ming, Malaysian Minister of Housing and Local Government.
UN Zero Waste Advisory Board Meeting Held in Istanbul
The UN Zero Waste Advisory Board Meeting, held concurrently with the forum, was chaired by Mrs. Emine Erdoğan. The meeting highlighted proposals for more effective alignment of zero waste targets with sustainable development goals and the establishment of a permanent zero waste mechanism within the UN.
Istanbul Became the Center of Global Transformation
Throughout the three-day forum, sessions were held on waste management, food loss, sustainable production and consumption, green finance, smart cities, zero waste in education, and international cooperation. The event, held under the theme “Zero Waste in Action: People. Places. Progress.” aimed to strengthen global cooperation for a sustainable future and translate the zero waste approach into concrete actions.
“We Will Make Istanbul the Global Center for Zero Waste Efforts”
The host of the forum, the Zero Waste Foundation, leads the way in raising environmental awareness, promoting the efficient use of resources, reducing carbon emissions, and developing a culture of sustainable living through its activities aimed at spreading zero waste principles at the social, academic, and economic levels.
In his speech at the closing of the International Zero Waste Forum held in Istanbul, Samed Ağırbaş, President of the Zero Waste Foundation, stated that Türkiye sets an example to the world with the steps it has taken in the field of environment and sustainability. Ağırbaş emphasized that Istanbul will become one of the regional centers of the United Nations in the coming period.
In his keynote speech, he said:
“Istanbul is at the heart of the zero waste vision. This forum is not only where ideas begin, but also where actions begin. Together, we can build a cleaner, fairer, and more livable world.”
"Under the leadership of our President, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, we fully support the vision of making Istanbul the regional center of the United Nations. As the Zero Waste Foundation, under the leadership of our founder and honorary president, Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, we are resolutely continuing our work toward this goal. We are determined to make Istanbul the global center for zero waste efforts."
Global Zero Waste Awards Find Their Winners
Within the scope of the International Zero Waste Forum, the Global Zero Waste Awards honored institutions and individuals who have pioneered the zero waste movement and made a difference with their innovative practices.
At the ceremony, where names that contributed to the Zero Waste movement and demonstrated leadership and innovation in sustainability were honored;
The Zero Waste Industrial Solutions Award went to Pedro Bulnes, Co-Founder and CEO of Rembre (Chile), The Zero Waste Global Business Award went to Mette Lykke, CEO of Too Good To Go, the Zero Waste Innovation Award was presented to Sergio Villava Gómez, Co-Founder of YENXA; the Zero Waste City Award was presented to Boris Palmer, Mayor of Tübingen, Germany; and the Zero Waste Lifestyle Contribution Award was presented to Nga Kor Ming, President of the United Nations Habitat Assembly and Minister of Housing and Local Government of Malaysia.
Video Mapping Show at Galata Tower
The video mapping show at Galata Tower, held as part of the forum, also attracted great interest. The tower, one of Istanbul's iconic structures, was illuminated with environmentally themed visuals, reflecting “the voice of nature” onto the skies of Istanbul. This special event delivered a powerful message of awareness, symbolizing Türkiye's pioneering role in the Zero Waste in Action.
Forum to Guide 2026 UN Report
The outcomes of the International Zero Waste Forum will not only strengthen local commitments but will also directly form the basis of the “Zero Waste Report” to be presented by the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General in 2026.
A Message from Istanbul to the World for Global Transformation
The International Zero Waste Forum became a symbol not only of environmental policies but also of a vision for humanity's shared future. This call from Istanbul brought the entire world together around a common awareness of protecting resources, preventing waste, and living in harmony with nature.
Zero Waste Movement
The Zero Waste Movement was launched on September 27, 2017, under the patronage of Emine Erdoğan.
On December 14, 2022, at the UN General Assembly, the “Zero Waste” resolution was adopted by vote, with Türkiye as the main sponsor and 105 countries as co-sponsors, and March 30 was declared “International Zero Waste Day.”
Emine Erdoğan was the keynote speaker at the first International Zero Waste Day event held in the UN General Assembly Hall on March 30, 2023.
At this event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the establishment of the “UN High-Level Advisory Council on Zero Waste” and offered Emine Erdoğan the chairmanship. Emine Erdoğan accepted this offer and assumed the chairmanship of the council, which was officially established on April 12, 2023.
As part of the 78th UN General Assembly, an event titled “Towards a Global Zero Waste Movement” was organized at Türkevi in New York under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan. At the event, President Erdoğan signed the “Global Zero Waste Goodwill Declaration” as the first signatory.
