Zero Waste Foundation

What Zero Waste Foundation does

The Zero Waste Foundation (Sıfır Atık Vakfı) is a Turkish nonprofit foundation established in 2023 under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan in cooperation with Turkey's Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. Its mission is to promote zero waste principles, accelerate the transition to circular economy models, and advance sustainable development through education, research, and global collaboration. The foundation serves public institutions, municipalities, schools, universities, private-sector entities (hotels, restaurants, malls, hospitals), and civil society by providing zero waste system installation frameworks, education programs, and community mobilization initiatives.

The foundation's core offerings include the international Zero Waste Forum (convening 183 countries and 120+ ministers), the Zero Waste Festival (1M+ visitors), the ITU Zero Waste Institute master's programme, the COP31 Türkiye digital platform, zero waste system installation guidance for municipalities and institutions, and the Wetlands Protection Program covering 120+ sites. It does not develop or sell technology products; its core work involves waste management frameworks, circular economy methodologies, and awareness/education programs.

The foundation operates as a grant- and government-supported nonprofit. Revenue is not generated through commercial product sales; instead, funding flows from Turkish government support, international partnerships, and multilateral grants. Its go-to-market centers on event-driven engagement (Zero Waste Forum, Festival, COP31, London Climate Action Week) and community-led mobilization across 39 Istanbul districts and beyond. Key strategic partners include Turkey's Ministry of Environment, ITU, UNICEF, G7 governments, the Government of Ethiopia (Africa expansion), the World Economic Forum, UN bodies (UNEP, UN Habitat, UN Zero Waste Advisory Board), and Boğaziçi University.

Name

Zero Waste Foundation

Legal name

SIFIR ATIK VAKFI

Website

https://sifiratikvakfi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Zero Waste Foundation is a Turkish nonprofit that promotes zero waste and circular economy principles through international forums, public festivals, academic programs, and government partnerships, serving municipalities, institutions, and citizens under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Advocacy & Sustainability Services

NAICS

All Other Waste Management Services (56299), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Pollution Prevention & Toxics Reduction (BPAGAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Circular Economy & Waste/Materials Reporting (Zero waste, packaging) (EUAHAJAL), Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Waste management education
• Circular economy advocacy
• Sustainability research
• Environmental policy partnerships
• Zero waste consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Üsküdar

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Foundation / Nonprofit Operations: As a nonprofit foundation established under the auspices of First Lady Emine Erdoğan in cooperation with Turkey's Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, the Zero Waste Foundation operates through government support, international partnerships, and grant-based funding. Revenue is not generated through commercial product sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Zero Waste Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes and sustains the Zero Waste Project by organizing international forums and public festivals, providing zero waste system installation guidance to institutions, running academic programs through the ITU Zero Waste Institute, producing research reports and educational resources, and coordinating climate diplomacy through UN Advisory Board leadership and the COP31 Türkiye platform. The foundation does not sell products or services commercially; its offerings are delivered through government partnerships, institutional cooperation, and direct public engagement.

Product overview

Zero Waste Foundation operates as a non-governmental organization focused on promoting and ensuring sustainability of the Zero Waste Project. The foundation's portfolio consists of the international Zero Waste Forum event platform, the ITU Zero Waste Institute academic program, the COP31 Türkiye digital platform, and the Zero Waste Festival public event. Supporting services include Zero Waste System Installation Guidance for municipalities and businesses, Zero Waste Exhibitions for public awareness, the Global Zero Waste Zones urban transformation initiative, and the Wetlands Protection environmental program. These offerings work together to advance zero waste principles, circular economy practices, and climate action across Turkey and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zero Waste Forum

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million visitors at the Zero Waste Festival held June 4-7; 850 MWh renewable energy consumed with 530 tons of CO2 equivalent emissions prevented
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 50+ Countries (Global Zero Waste Forum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025The Zero Waste Forum involves ministers and representatives from 50+ countries discussing global waste challenges, promoting circular fashion solutions, and establishing the Global Zero Waste Business Coalition. Focus areas include fashion and textile waste reduction.
• Istanbul Technical University (ITU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2025Cooperation protocol signed on May 12, 2025 establishing the ITU Zero Waste Institute — one of Turkey's first academic structures in zero waste and circular economy fields. The institute offers a master's program in zero waste, circular economy, resource efficiency, and waste management. Brings together ITU's scientific expertise and the Zero Waste Foundation's field experience.
• G7 CountriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2025Comprehensive cooperation established with G7 countries during Paris engagements covering zero waste, circular economy, waste-related emissions reduction, and climate action. A special working group is being established for joint work during COP31 (Turkey) and COP32 (Ethiopia) processes. Engagements held with representatives from France, Germany, United Kingdom, and the G7 Presidency.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZero Waste Foundation and UNICEF joined forces for children's climate future, combining their respective strengths to engage young people in climate action and zero waste awareness through education and awareness programs.
• Government of EthiopiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZero Waste Foundation and the Government of Ethiopia launched a period of joint work on Africa's climate agenda. An Africa Meeting will be held in Addis Ababa as part of Zero Waste Forum 2027. Cooperation areas include regional climate priorities, sustainable development goals, resource efficiency, circular economy practices, and zero waste solutions.
• Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (Turkey)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized the Zero Waste Festival at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul. The ministry contributed the energy and technology section featuring solar energy systems, wind technologies, energy storage solutions, smart city applications, and efficiency-oriented innovative technologies. Festival attracted over 1 million visitors.
• Boğaziçi UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Zero Waste Foundation for sustainable future vision, creating collaborative academic and practical initiatives in environmental sustainability.
• UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngagement with UNECA Executive Secretary Claver Gatete addressing Africa's sustainable development goals, climate resilience, access to climate finance, and stronger representation of Africa in global climate processes within the COP31-COP32 cooperation framework.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong cooperation established between Zero Waste Foundation and World Economic Forum. Samed Ağırbaş, President of the foundation and COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, participated in World Economic Forum Leaders Summit, strengthening international climate diplomacy and zero waste agenda alignment.
• United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeeting between Samed Ağırbaş and UNCCD Executive Secretary Yasmine Fouad in Bonn to evaluate joint international efforts on land protection, combating desertification, and sustainable land management within the COP31 goals framework.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A leading global nonprofit advancing the circular economy through research, business engagement, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable to the Zero Waste Foundation's circular economy and zero waste policy focus, with a similar model of international convening and corporate coalition-building.
• Climate Action Network (CAN): A worldwide network of 1,800+ NGOs working to drive ambitious climate policy and influence UN climate negotiations. Comparable as a coalition-based advocacy organization engaging governments and civil society on climate and waste policy.
• Greenpeace: A global environmental nonprofit focused on climate, oceans, and waste advocacy with multinational campaigns and grassroots mobilization. Comparable in advocacy-driven environmental mission and global convening reach.

Emerging players

• ClientEarth: An environmental law nonprofit using legal action and policy advocacy to advance climate and waste regulation in Europe and beyond. Comparable as a non-operational, advocacy-and-policy-focused environmental organization with international scope.
• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): A global nonprofit running disclosure systems for climate, water, and forests used by governments and corporations. Comparable as a non-profit operating international platforms that shape corporate and government environmental behavior.

Broad incumbents

• Global Environment Facility (GEF): A multilateral fund financing environmental projects in developing countries across climate, biodiversity, and waste. Comparable as an institutional funder and convener of national-level environmental programs.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): A large global conservation NGO working on biodiversity, climate, and resource stewardship, including waste and circular economy programs. Comparable as a broad environmental nonprofit with international convening power and multi-country project execution.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): A global research organization producing data-driven policy guidance on environmental and sustainability issues, including waste and circular economy. Comparable as a research-and-policy nonprofit influencing national and international climate/waste policy.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP): The UN's designated environmental authority coordinating global environmental policy, including waste and circular economy programs. Comparable as the institutional counterpart that the Zero Waste Foundation partners with through the UN Zero Waste Advisory Board.

Regional players

• RECYCLING FOUNDATION (Letsrecycle / REI): A UK-focused waste and recycling information/services network supporting recycling initiatives across Europe. Comparable as a waste-management-focused nonprofit promoting zero waste and circular economy practices, but operating primarily in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sifiratikvakfi0
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sifiratikvakfi
• Facebookfacebook.com/sifiratikvakfi0
• Instagraminstagram.com/sifiratikvakfi0
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zerowaste-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Zero Waste Foundation