In the past few years, the general understanding and consideration towards the planet we live in has changed massively. The climate and waste crises have made it to mainstream news and the consensus is growing. We need to do something and do it fast! Governments and international organisations have put environmental considerations in many agreements, plans, and papers. We have the Paris Agreement and Circular Economy Action Plan among others and several smaller initiatives. That said, we just need to implement them and reach our targets.
However… This can be an “easier said than done” situation. Googling zero waste and circular economy practices can be a daunting task. In fact, there are endless options and, on top of that, not all of them are credible, and some can even be downright greenwashing. In most organisations, time and budgets are tight, so it is best to avoid inefficient choices.
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone had already picked the best options that have been proven to work, could understand your unique situation, and could point you in the right direction to the most impactful solutions?
Curious enough? Keep reading and learn more about the Mission Zero Academy and what we can do for you!
Starting from scratch with substantial expertise and hundreds of examples
The European non-governmental organisation Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) has been working for a decade at the European level to push for ambitious policies; and to identify and test the most impactful zero waste practices. Its network, which comprises most of the European continent, has been implementing those practices in a variety of contexts and organisations, creating a wealth of knowledge and experience of best practices. Its flagship programme Zero Waste Cities and Communities has worked with over 400 municipalities to help them reduce, reuse, and recycle their waste with amazing results (see the recently published State of Zero Waste Municipalities Report, which maps the success stories of community-centred zero waste models throughout Europe). Achieving 85% separate collection rates or below 100kg residual waste per person is no problem for these municipalities, while many others fail to even reach the EU target of 50% separate collection.
It would be crazy not to mainstream the tactics behind these transformations and make all this expertise available to any organisation needing guidance on how to transform their policies and operations in a circular way. Consequently, the team and members at Zero Waste Europe set the wheels in motion and worked hard to make it happen.
Enter the Mission Zero Academy, MiZA for friends. Nice to meet you!
Walking side to side with municipalities and SMEs on their zero waste journey
We recognise that municipalities create many of the enabling conditions for the people and organisations to reduce their waste, reuse and recycle better, and preserve the healthy and green environment that we all enjoy. However, they are also the ones who need to find ways to fulfill regulation requirements, some of which can be very challenging.
As per our experience, zero waste strategies can go above and beyond the regulations while boosting the local economy, creating jobs, and reducing waste related costs. We want to help municipalities find the best policies and strategies out of the myriad of alternatives – and we want to do it in the easiest and most efficient way possible. Our expert network understands the varying local contexts, and is ready to guide municipalities on their zero waste journey.
At the same time, we understand that businesses have an important role in creating a flourishing zero waste society. The way they operate, package their goods, and ultimately offer to us is visible in our waste bins. Since most of the companies in Europe are SMEs – which often lack the resources to have in-house environmental specialists – we want to lend them a hand on their journey to become zero waste champions. With our help, it will be easy to transform an operations model, accommodating more sustainable business practices that are appreciated by the customers, good for the business, and kind to our planet. There is a growing consensus that sustainable businesses are more profitable in the long term – so, with us, companies can future proof their business.
The Mission Zero Academy in a nutshell
The Mission Zero Academy (MiZA) aims to be a trusted, widely-recognised, user-friendly one-stop-shop for zero waste solutions, resources, and information in Europe at the local level. Ultimately, we work towards bridging the knowledge gap in the transition towards zero waste practices.
With over a decade of expertise behind its creation, and providing evidence-based and expert-approved methods, MiZA supports public and private sector professionals.
Our service offer includes:
- tried-and-tested solutions;
- qualified-expert training and case studies;
- useful tools;
- downloadable resources;
- online and offline training materials on resource management and circular economy topics.
MiZA’s vision is to accelerate the transition towards zero waste strategies, making them fully effective and widespread. At the same, we seek to protect the term ‘zero waste’ so that it remains applicable to evidence-based and trustworthy solutions and away from misappropriation by greenwashing practices.
Are you ready to start your journey? We can’t wait to accompany you!
Do you want to know more? Have a look at what we do.
