The definition of zero waste according to the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) is as follows: “Zero Waste: The conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.” At its core, Zero Waste takes aim at our “take, make, and waste” approach to production and consumption, encouraging a more circular approach to the way we use resources. On its most basic level, this means that the goal of zero waste is to push economies towards the target of sending no waste to landfill, incinerators, and the ocean. (www.zerowaste.com)

Zero waste is not merely an end goal, but a set of guiding principles that strive towards eliminating waste at any and all stages of the chain. From resource extraction through production to consumption and management of discarded materials, the aim is to close the loop, redefining the entire concept of waste and ensuring resources remain in use for as long as possible before being returned to the earth with little to no environmental impact. (www.zerowaste.com)

The advantages of going Zero Waste are multiple. Here are a few benefits that Zero Waste can bring your business or organisation: Improved brand image Healthier workplace through limited exposure to toxic substances Employee engagement, attraction and retainment Development of new revenue streams Donor and investor attraction Less time, money and efforts spent on waste management Improved efficiency Reduced running costs Competitive advantage Network of like-minded people Awareness-raising of the general public

The goal of Zero Waste is much broader than recycling, aiming to reduce or eliminate waste at the source rather than deal with it later. It also aims to increase circularity across production systems, making everyone involved with a particular product (or service) responsible for potential waste and its integration back into the loop. In essence, Zero Waste focuses on product design, examining where waste can be eliminated through a hierarchal set of principles: “Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle”—In that particular order. Recycling is a part of the Zero Waste hierarchy, though low on the list of priorities since the Zero Waste concept aims to eliminate waste rather than deal with it. Recycling still has a big part to play in the way we manage waste—both now and in the future, with recyclable materials playing their part in reducing waste and valuing resources. Recycling systems and composting are designed to take waste products and turn them into something useful. As a concept, it’s an excellent idea, helping us to reclaim materials after use, however, the sheer range of different materials and products in use today means that recycling has inefficiencies and operational challenges, especially here in Cambodia. In terms of recycling, resources are also expended at both ends of a product’s lifecycle, i.e. those used in manufacturing and those used during end-of-life-processing. This stands in stark opposition to the Zero Waste concept that aims to conserve resources at the manufacturing stage and then integrate them seamlessly back into the loop—completely avoiding “end of life” wherever possible. In short, recycling is behind in its capacity to deal with both waste already in existence and of that being created daily. (www.zerowaste.com)

Greenwashing is essentially when a company or organisation spends more time and money on marketing themselves as being sustainable than on actually minimising their environmental impact. It’s a deceitful advertising method to gain favour with consumers who choose to support businesses that care about bettering the planet. Greenwashing takes up valuable space in the fight against environmental issues, like climate change, plastic ocean pollution, air pollution and global species extinctions.

As an individual, I would recommend to consult the numerous internet resources that are available to get started with Zero Waste. If you are lost, you can always apply this methodology: first, analyse and quantify your waste output and identify which waste items are the most recurrent: these are the ones that you will need to find alternatives to as a priority. Also identify the waste items which you know you could get rid of easily without much effort, these too will be your priority. Then, take each waste item separately and ask yourself: is this product really important to me or can I do without? If not, are they ways I could reduce this kind of waste by changing the way I shop or by switching to a more eco-friendly alternative for example? Are there any reusable items that could avoid having to generate that kind of waste? If not, are they ways I can reuse this kind of waste for something useful instead of throwing it away, or could someone else use it? If you are not able to eliminate that particular waste type, then it’s time to look for recycling or composting option in order to keep it out of the landfill. As a business, the method is the same, but often businesses do not have the time and human resources necessary to conduct such an analysis and to research eco-friendly alternatives and recycling options. If this is the case, you can count on us as we’ll be able to get you on the path to Zero Waste in no time and with long-lasting results.