Zero Waste Day 2026 Wrap-up Report

The International Day of Zero Waste, established by a 2022 UN General Assembly resolution, is jointly facilitated by the UN Environment Programme and the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), and observed annually on 30 March. The Day brings together stakeholders worldwide to advance waste prevention, sustainable waste management, sustainable production and consumption and circular solutions that support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Themed “Zero Waste Starts on Your Plate”, the 2026 observance focused on food waste – one of the most urgent and solvable climate-related challenges. Responsible for up to 14 per cent of global methane emissions, food waste is both a climate imperative and a social paradox: 783 million people worldwide were facing hunger in 2022 alone, but still an estimated 1.05 billion tones of food were lost or wasted. This year’s Zero Waste Day took place at a critical moment, as the lead-up to the UN Climate Change Conference 2026 (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye was helping to focus global attention on waste, food systems and methane emissions. Under Türkiye’s leadership and with strong engagement from the Zero Waste Foundation, Zero Waste Day 2026 positioned food waste reduction as a key climate and development priority, contributing to broader global momentum towards advancing circular solutions.