Sant'Anna School joins the "International Zero Waste Day": an opportunity to reflect and inspire global change towards ecological practices to preserve the planet and future generations
The International Zero Waste Day, established by the UN Assembly in 2022, was celebrated for the first time on 30 March 2023. As last year, the second International Zero Waste Day also highlights both the fundamental need to strengthen the management of waste at a global level, and the importance of sustainable production and consumption practices.
The Sant'Anna School has always had issues related to environmental sustainability at heart, studied and explored in particular by researchers from the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Sustainability and Climate: a multi- and interdisciplinary research area that involves different professionals of the School who operate in economic and management, engineering, IT, social and legal sciences, addressing emerging problems and challenges in the field of sustainability.
As part of post-graduate training, since 2007 the School has offered the second level Master's Degree in Environmental Management and Control (GECA, former Master's Degree in Environment); the course of study offers a high-level multidisciplinary path in the environmental and sustainability sector. the program delves into the logic of ongoing economic transitions: circularity, energy transition, decarbonisation and their geo-political, economic, social and environmental implications.
To prepare for this day, the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, as part of the alliance EELISA, in partnership with Scuola Normae Superiore, screened the film "Plastic Fantastic" on March 21, 2024 in the presence of director Isa Willinger.
The documentary film presented at several Film Festivals won the title of best documentary on the environment by Greenpeace 2023 in 2023 and is a feature film that comprehensively recounts the problem of the use and uncontrolled production of disposable plastic.
However, International Zero Waste Day is not only aimed at reducing plastic production.
The objective is transversal and also includes strengthening waste management, improving collection, recycling and other forms of management to counter a real crisis.
In Italy alone, in 2022, 29.1 million tonnes of waste were produced according to the ISPRA Report. Down 1.8% compared to 2021. But it's not enough. To resolve the crisis, waste should be treated as a resource and this involves a significant reduction in waste production and respect for the life cycle of products.
This day also wants to promote the production of more durable products, which require fewer production materials and have a low impact. Solutions like these can minimize air, soil and water pollution and reduce the extraction of precious and limited natural resources.
However, achieving a zero waste society requires the action of everyone, from consumers, to communities, to governments who can adopt plans and policies to reach the goal.
Further information on the page dedicated to International Zero Waste Day.
