Towards Zero Waste Day

Advancing Effective Waste Management

This year’s International Day of Zero Waste 2025 on 30 March emphasizes the need for action in the fashion and textile sector to reduce waste and advance circular solutions, as the production and consumption of textile has severely outplaced sustainability efforts. Clothing production doubled from 2000 to 2015 and yet, 92 million tons of textile waste is produced globally, equating to a garbage truck full of clothing incinerated or sent to landfills every second.

PAGE aims to put sustainability at the center of economic policies and practices to advance towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the goals and targets of SDG 12, focusing on responsible production and consumption.

In the context of International Day of Zero Waste, this blog showcases how PAGE contributes to circular economy and waste management. Explore how PAGE supported green textile initiatives in India and Jiangsu Province and different ways in which PAGE contributed to sustainable waste management in Indonesia, South Africa and Thailand.

India

Assisting Jharkhand state in India to identify green jobs and decent work opportunities in the Textile and Apparel sector, PAGE finalized an important report in 2023 in conjunction with the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the Ministry of Textiles. The “Assessment of Green Jobs and Decent Work Opportunities in the Textile/Garment Sector in Jharkhand State, India’’ emphasized that integrating sustainable practices in Jharkhand’s textile sector can lead to economic growth, environmental conservation, and improved livelihoods for workers. Another recent achievement of PAGE work in India, is the strengthening of the eco label programme to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and circular economy in India. The country’s new Eco-Mark Rules of 2024 serve as a tool that encourages environmentally and socially responsible consumer choices as well as industry practices. The Eco-Mark Rules also apply to textile products, which, to obtain the Eco-Label, must adhere to criteria that minimize pollution, reduce waste and emissions, utilize recyclable or recycled materials, and limit the use of non-renewable resources and hazardous substances.

Jiangsu Province (China)

China’s textile sector is one of the largest in the world, generating significant waste and environmental impact. In 2017, PAGE developed a targeted training in the province, helping textile companies improving sustainability along value chains. The training agenda was tailored to local demand and interest, and covered topics such as non-tariff measures for textile trade, clean production in textile industry, and corporate social responsibility in textile supply chains. Another milestone of PAGE’s work in the Jiangsu Province is the collaboration with the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), fostering a just transition and green jobs in the textile and garment sector by hosting workshops and dialogues in 2020 and 2022. Throughout the five-year engagement with Jiangsu, the advancement of low-carbon production in the province progressed steadily.

Expert insights on the textile and garment industry in Jiangsu Province

As part of the interview series “People at the heart of PAGE”, Ms. Liu Hui, Deputy Director of Research and Consulting Department of Social Responsibility Office of CNTAC, Member of a council of China Textile Enterprise Association reveald a story of progress: how the textile and garment industry once tied to heavy environmental costs is pivoting towards sustainability, fairness, and opportunity.

People at the Heart of PAGE work – Liu Hui

Indonesia

PAGE has supported Indonesia in advancing waste management and circular economy initiatives through targeted assessments, policy support, and stakeholder engagement to enhance food security and address environmental issues. In 2021, PAGE conducted a Life Cycle Assessment on Waste and CO₂ Reduction Potential in the palm cooking oil industry, analysing its entire supply chain—from cultivation and milling to packaging and disposal—to quantify opportunities for waste reduction. In the same year, PAGE examined the impact of Food Loss and Waste (FLW) in West Java on gas emissions and food security and provided policy reforms and fiscal incentives to reduce FLW. This was followed with a similar strategy and action plan for food waste management in Bali in 2024.

South Africa

In South Africa, PAGE has played a pivotal role in shaping waste management policies and promoting circularity. In 2022, under the leadership of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, PAGE provided technical inputs to the revision of the Municipal Integrated Waste Management Planning Guidelines to ensure that job creation, waste management and circular economy are incorporated. The guidelines have been adopted with the result that from now on all municipalities in South Africa must integrate circular economy dimensions into their planning and management of waste. The inclusion of circularity in the waste sector has informed broader policy through mandatory reporting requirements.

Thailand

Thailand has taken significant steps toward a circular economy, particularly in addressing plastic waste and knowledge and financing gaps. Based on the insights from a survey in Rayong Municipality in 2022, PAGE developed terms of reference in 2023 for an in-depth financing gap analysis including public finance, the private sector, start-ups and the informal sector, to support the introduction of a national financing scheme on waste management. Accordingly, the local government developed a digital technology for waste management payment, featuring details on recyclable waste and promoting segregation of waste in exchange for lower charges. Furthermore, in 2024, PAGE and Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised “Towards a Greener Future: Thailand’s Zero Waste Practices” seminar, which provided an opportunity for Thailand to exchange its experiences with other countries on managing waste and adding value to used materials.

Going forward

The International Day of Zero Waste is a reminder of the urgent need to shift to circular economy models that focus on the scarcity of resources and the sustainable management of waste. By supporting regulatory frameworks, encouraging investment in sustainable infrastructure, and fostering knowledge-sharing initiatives, PAGE will continue to drive meaningful progress toward a greener, more circular global economy.