The Zero Waste Institute Held Its First Seminar

On Wednesday, June 10, the Zero Waste Institute hosted a seminar titled “How Can Cities Shift to a Circular Economy?” featuring Dr. Simran Talwar.

On May 5, 2025, Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and the Zero Waste Foundation signed a significant cooperation protocol to advance work on sustainability and zero waste across various fields, including scientific research, educational activities, social responsibility projects, and innovation initiatives. On September 6, 2025, the decision to establish the Zero Waste Institute was published in the Official Gazette No. 33009. On February 6, 2026, a protocol regarding the construction of the Zero Waste Institute’s building was signed between Istanbul Technical University and the Zero Waste Foundation.

Established through a collaboration between the Zero Waste Foundation, the United Nations (UN), and Istanbul Technical University (ITU), the institute is the first of its kind in Turkey and ranks among a select few institutions worldwide. Research and educational activities addressing all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), are expected to begin in the 2026-2027 academic year.

The Institute began its activities in the spring semester of 2025–2026 and held its first seminar with Dr. Simran Talwar, a faculty member at the University of Technology Sydney. At the Zero Waste Forum 2025, Dr. Simran Talwar co-moderated the panel “Academia and Zero Waste” with Erol Özvar, President of the Higher Education Council (YÖK). Our Institute’s academics also participated in this year’s Zero Waste Forum. Dr. Simran visited ITU as part of this year’s Zero Waste Week, building on the relationships established since last year.

Ahead of COP 31, which will take place through the partnership between Australia and Turkey, the University of Technology Sydney and Istanbul Technical University addressed the topic of Zero Waste through this meeting. During the seminar held as part of the Zero Waste Institute’s Zero Waste Week activities, Dr. Simran Talwar—Research Director of the Resource Management Group and Circular Economy Theme Lead at the University of Technology Sydney’s Institute for Sustainable Futures—met with our ITU faculty members and students. The seminar explored how cities can transition to circular economy practices and contribute to more sustainable urban development. Dr. Simran Talwar shared insights into social initiatives related to zero waste and plastic recycling in Australia. The seminar concluded with a question-and-answer session.

As part of Zero Waste Week activities, the “ITU Zero Waste Project Biennial” was held on June 3, 2026, at the ITU Ayazağa SDKM.