Zero Waste Foundation: Architect of a Sustainable Future

Sıfır Atık Vakfı – Zero Waste Foundation

The Zero Waste Foundation has become one of Turkey’s most important actors in environmental protection through its determined stance since its establishment. The foundation’s multidimensional projects make significant contributions to achieving sustainable development goals and support the mission of leaving a more livable world for future generations. This movement, which began under the leadership of Emine Erdoğan, today represents Turkey’s leadership in environmental issues on national and international platforms. The Zero Waste Foundation, one of Turkey’s most important institutions in environmental protection, continues to carry out pioneering projects across the country in line with sustainable development goals.

Mission and Vision

The fundamental purpose of the Zero Waste Foundation is to expand and ensure the sustainability of the Zero Waste Project. The foundation works with the philosophy of “transition from self-centered understanding to human-centered understanding,” aiming for societal transformation in solving environmental problems.

Recent Important Developments

International Cooperation and Partnerships

The Zero Waste Foundation continues to strengthen international cooperation in the fight against global environmental problems. In this context:

• Partnership with the United Nations: In September 2025, an important cooperation agreement was signed with the UN Turkey Office to support sustainable development and the 2030 agenda.
• New York Climate Week Partnership: The foundation serves as one of the main partners representing Turkey at New York Climate Week, the world’s largest global climate event.

Scientific Research and Data Center

In August 2025, an important cooperation protocol was signed between the Zero Waste Foundation and the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) regarding the establishment of the International Zero Waste Data Center. This center will play a pioneering role in collecting, analyzing, and sharing data in the field of zero waste.

Education and Academic Contributions

Scholarship Programs

The foundation has launched a scholarship program for master’s and doctoral students for the 2025-2026 academic year, contributing to the development of young researchers. This program aims to support researchers who will make scientific contributions to Turkey’s zero waste vision.

Environmental Education

The foundation carries out various educational programs for preschool and elementary school children to develop environmental awareness. These programs include raising awareness about protecting natural resources, environmentally friendly consumption habits, and waste management.

Water Resources Protection Activities

The Zero Waste Foundation conducts comprehensive work across Turkey to “protect the blue homeland.” Special projects are being developed to clean seas, lakes, and other water resources from waste, and coastal cleanup events are organized.

Black Sea Project

Particularly, the coastal and seabed cleanup activities carried out in Amasra district of Bartın, known as “the pearl of the Black Sea,” demonstrate the foundation’s emphasis on water resources.

Current Activities and Exhibitions

The foundation organizes various exhibitions to raise environmental awareness. Exhibitions consisting of visual and audio works that draw attention to the importance of water with the slogan “Are You Aware of the Blue?” receive great interest on both local and international platforms.

Future Goals

The Zero Waste Foundation continues to expand and deepen its work by setting the following priorities:

• Widespread implementation of circular economy practices
• Increasing international cooperation
• Supporting scientific research
• Raising social awareness