COP31: Leaders’ Summit | Zero Waste - The business case for zero waste

Wednesday’s Zero Waste program focused on three interconnected priorities: preventing food waste, advancing circular economy policies and reducing methane emissions from the waste sector. The Zero Waste Action Agenda focuses on turning these priorities into practical action by encouraging stronger integration into national climate plans, calling for commitments to prevent food waste and for regulatory and financial measures that support reuse, recycling and circular-by-design principles. 

For businesses, the emphasis on waste prevention and circularity highlights opportunities to improve resource efficiency, reduce costs and emissions, and prepare for evolving regulatory expectations.

Leaders’ Summit

Opening the high-level discussions at the Leaders’ Summit, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that an overshoot of the 1.5°C threshold is now inevitable, but stressed that governments can still determine its scale and duration through faster action on clean energy, adaptation and finance.

Countries reaffirmed their climate priorities, with electrification, climate finance and international cooperation emerging as recurring themes. Türkiye continued to build support for the proposed 35-by-35 Global Electrification Pledge, which aims to increase electricity's share of global final energy demand to 35% by 2035, while Brazil warned against weakening international climate momentum. China called on developed countries to honor their climate finance commitments, and Australia emphasized the importance of accelerating clean energy investment. Separately, China, Türkiye and Ethiopia announced a new initiative to strengthen international cooperation on high-quality carbon crediting markets.

Why it matters: National statements do not create legal obligations in themselves, but they can signal the political priorities likely to shape negotiations, domestic policy and investment decisions during and after COP31.

Food waste 

The Presidency intends to encourage governments and businesses to measurable commitments that prevent food waste at the source. This builds on the Food Waste Breakthrough launched at COP30, which aims to halve global food waste by 2030 while promoting measures to prevent organic waste from reaching landfills. At COP31, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Zero Waste Foundation brought together governments, businesses and citizens to explore partnerships, financial support and practical solutions to support implementation. The discussions also highlighted measures to divert organic waste from landfills and dumpsites, including waste prevention, separate collection, anaerobic digestion and composting.

Why it matters: Nearly one-third of food produced globally is lost or wasted, with food loss and waste together accounting for approximately 8%  to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Food waste reduction could become an increasing focus for food producers, retailers, hospitality businesses and their supply chains. Measures to prevent waste and improve resource efficiency may help businesses reduce costs and emissions, while creating opportunities for investment in waste collection, treatment and recovery infrastructure.

Circular economy policies

COP31 is seeking to accelerate the adoption of circular economy policies that treat waste as a resource rather than a burden. The Presidency is promoting regulatory and financial measures to encourage reuse, recycling and “circular-by-design” principles, with the aim of preventing waste and associated emissions at source.

While these initiatives do not themselves introduce new legal obligations, they could encourage governments to strengthen domestic policies, incentives and regulatory frameworks supporting waste prevention and circularity.

COP31 also saw the announcement of the first 20 Zero Waste Districts across Latin America, Africa and Asia. The initiative will pilot practical measures including composting, reuse and repair, with the aim of demonstrating how local waste reduction solutions can be implemented and scaled more widely.

Why it matters: Greater emphasis on circularity could influence future product design, packaging, procurement and waste management requirements. Businesses may need to consider how materials are sourced, used and recovered across their value chains, while identifying opportunities to reduce costs, improve resource efficiency and develop more circular business models.

Reducing methane emissions from the waste sector

As part of its Zero Waste Action Agenda, the COP31 Presidency is developing a Global High-Level Dialogue on Methane Emissions from the Waste Sector, with the support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The initiative aims to help countries turn existing methane commitments and policies into practical measures, and identify barriers to implementation and strengthen international cooperation on waste-sector methane reduction. It will support policies and projects that focus on waste prevention, diverting organic waste from landfills and dumpsites, and improve waste management through measures such as composting, anaerobic digestion and landfill gas capture.

Methane reduction was also discussed at the Global Methane Pledge Ministerial, co-convened by Canada and the European Commission. Discussions focused on accelerating implementation of existing methane commitments, including through greater investment, international cooperation and technical support.

Why it matters: Greater attention to waste-sector methane could encourage governments to strengthen waste management requirements, methane monitoring and emissions reduction measures. This may create opportunities for waste operators, technology providers and infrastructure investors, particularly in organic waste treatment, landfill gas capture and methane monitoring technologies.

What happens next 

Attention will now turn to how COP31’s zero waste ambitions translate into national policies, investment and practical projects. Governments may seek to strengthen incentives and regulatory frameworks supporting waste prevention, reuse and recycling, circularity and methane reduction.

For businesses, the developments highlight the importance of understanding waste generation and resource use across operations and supply chains. Companies may benefit from reviewing opportunities to reduce waste, improve material efficiency and prepare for potential changes in waste management and circular economy requirements.

Further reading on COP31

Stay up to date with our daily COP31 briefings on our COP31 hub here.