Istanbul’s Zero Waste Forum wraps up with focus on circular economy, climate action
The Zero Waste Forum 2026 has come to a close in Istanbul on June 7 after bringing together policymakers, environmental experts and international representatives to discuss circular economy practices, food waste reduction and sustainable growth.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is scheduled to address participants later in the day as the three-day gathering entered its last day.
The forum discussed global climate efforts ahead of COP31, which Türkiye will host in Antalya in November. Sessions focused on organic waste and methane emissions, food loss across supply chains, industrial transition to circular production models, reuse systems, bioeconomy initiatives and the role of consumer behavior in waste generation.
Opening the forum on June 5, First Lady Emine Erdoğan described the event as one of the world’s most comprehensive international environmental gatherings. She noted that representatives from 183 countries, more than 500 institutions and organizations, and over 5,000 participants had convened in Istanbul, calling it “a historic meeting where the human family unites around a common ideal.”
