Insights from the IV Zero Waste Estonian Conference: what facilitators and participants highlighted – Zero Waste Europe

Report on the VI Estonian Zero Waste Conference Workshops

A series of workshops was conducted on 16–17 October as part of the VI Estonian Zero Waste Conference. The sessions focused on behavioural change, reuse systems, systemic transition, and inter-organisational collaboration to advance the circular economy and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Fostering Behavioural Change for Responsible Consumption (SDG 12)

Key Behavioural Challenges Addressed

Workshop sessions focused on mapping and planning interventions for critical consumption patterns that hinder progress toward SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The primary challenges identified were:

1. Reducing excessive consumption of clothing, including second-hand items.
2. Promoting plant-based food systems by replacing meat-based menus at corporate events, contributing to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
3. Encouraging a culture of repair for clothing and other items to extend product lifecycles.

Analysis and Proposed Interventions

• Discussions revealed that consumption is often driven by emotional factors, serving as a coping mechanism for stress. This insight is crucial for developing effective strategies that provide alternative sources of emotional relief, rather than focusing solely on rational arguments.
• A significant barrier to repair is the cost-effectiveness of replacement, as often advised by professional services. However, self-repair was identified as a powerful personal achievement, suggesting that communication strategies should frame repair as an empowering act.

Case Study: Urban Mobility and Sustainable Communities (SDG 11)

A dedicated session addressed the habitual use of private cars for urban travel, a key challenge for achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Participants identified target groups and brainstormed interventions using a mix of strategic approaches, including:

• Regulatory measures (“sticks”), such as the taxation of single-occupancy car journeys.
• Incentives (“carrots”).
• Informational campaigns (“sermons”).
• Behavioural “nudges”.

Developing Reuse Systems for a Circular Economy (SDG 9, SDG 12)

Defining and Implementing Effective Reuse Models

This workshop focused on the practical implementation of reuse systems, a cornerstone of SDG 12. Participants engaged in defining the core components of a true reuse system and analyzed recent EU legislative developments that support this transition. The goal was to move from vision to actionable strategies for mainstreaming reuse.

Innovative Proposal for Infrastructure Development

A key outcome emerged independently from two separate working groups, highlighting a strong consensus on a tangible path forward. The proposal involves leveraging and expanding existing infrastructure to support new circular models, directly contributing to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

• The primary recommendation was to expand Estonia’s successful Deposit Return Scheme.
• This expanded system would incorporate other types of reusable packaging, such as takeaway food containers, thereby reducing single-use waste and its impact on terrestrial and marine ecosystems (SDG 14 and SDG 15).

Strategic Phase-Out of Linear Economic Models (SDG 12)

Framework for Systemic Change

Participants developed individual plans to phase out elements of the current linear economic system. This strategic exercise involved a structured approach to managing the transition toward a circular economy in line with SDG 12 targets.

• Setting clear phase-out targets.
• Identifying critical leverage points for maximum impact.
• Creating actionable strategies for implementation.

The Role of Multi-Stakeholder Coalitions (SDG 17)

A critical insight from the workshop was the necessity of building broad coalitions to drive systemic change. This aligns directly with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The strategic importance of stakeholder mapping was emphasized, including:

• Identifying and engaging potential allies.
• Understanding the motivations of opposing stakeholders to develop persuasive arguments for change.

Advancing Circularity through Inter-Organisational Collaboration (SDG 17)

Creative Problem-Solving and Resource Mapping

This workshop utilized a “serious game” approach to foster creative thinking and highlight the potential of industrial symbiosis. Participants used a “Disruptor Lens” to re-examine familiar problems and identify untapped resources, a key practice for achieving resource efficiency under SDG 12.

• Identified hidden resources included intangible assets like public enthusiasm and the knowledge of older populations, alongside physical resources like waste heat and human waste.
• The discussion highlighted the potential for the older generation to contribute to a repair culture, supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through informal economic activity.
• A provocative question, “What if your success was measured in collaboration, not profit?”, challenged participants to rethink business models in the context of SDG 17.

Application in Food Waste Reduction (SDG 2, SDG 12)

A significant portion of the discussion centered on food waste, a critical issue for both SDG 2 and SDG 12. The focus was on waste generated by large-scale wholesalers, producers, and restaurants.

• The primary challenge identified was the lack of communication and information sharing between organizations (e.g., a food wholesaler needing to offload surplus produce and a nearby school cafeteria that could use it).
• Participants concluded that effective solutions must be both compliant with regulations and cost-effective, underscoring the need for innovative partnerships and logistical systems to redirect surplus food.

Synthesis and Forward Outlook

The workshops at the VI Estonian Zero Waste Conference confirmed that a successful transition to a zero-waste, circular economy requires an integrated approach. Key conclusions include:

• The transition demands a focus on both individual behavioural change and systemic transformation.
• Creative, symbiotic collaboration between diverse organizations is essential for unlocking new value streams and solving complex resource challenges.
• Collective action, built on shared insights and multi-stakeholder partnerships, is fundamental to turning vision into reality and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses several issues that directly connect to three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The analysis of the workshops and discussions at the VI Estonian Zero Waste Conference highlights a clear focus on sustainable practices, urban living, and collaboration.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This goal is addressed through the workshop discussion on urban mobility. The focus on reducing the “habitual use of private cars for urban travel” and brainstorming interventions like “taxation of single-occupancy car journeys” directly relates to creating more sustainable urban environments.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This is the most prominent SDG in the article. It is addressed through multiple themes, including the circular economy, reducing excessive consumption (“reducing excessive clothing purchases”), promoting reuse and repair (“encouraging the repair of clothing and other items,” “reuse systems”), sustainable food choices (“replacing meat-based menus with plant-based alternatives”), and reducing food waste (“discussion focused on food waste, particularly from the perspective of large-scale food wholesalers, producers, and restaurants”).
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article emphasizes the importance of collaboration to achieve a circular economy. The workshop titled “Opening Symbiosis – circular economy cooperation between organisations” is a direct reflection of this goal. It explores how “symbiotic collaboration is possible between very different types of companies” and highlights the need for communication and partnerships to ensure one organization’s surplus can become another’s input.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific topics discussed in the article, several SDG targets can be identified as being directly relevant.

1. Target 11.2: “By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all…” The workshop that focused on shifting away from the “habitual use of private cars for urban travel” aims to change behaviors to support more sustainable transport systems.
2. Target 12.3: “By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains…” This is directly addressed in the “Opening Symbiosis” workshop, where the discussion focused on “food waste, particularly from the perspective of large-scale food wholesalers, producers, and restaurants” and finding solutions for using these resources.
3. Target 12.5: “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” This target is central to the entire article. It is reflected in the conference’s “Zero Waste” theme and the workshops on “reducing excessive clothing purchases,” “encouraging the repair of clothing,” and making “reuse systems mainstream,” such as expanding the Deposit Return Scheme for reusable packaging.
4. Target 12.8: “By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles…” The conference and its workshops serve as a platform for this target by educating participants and exploring strategies for “behavioural change” and shifting “people’s habits” towards more sustainable lifestyles.
5. Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The workshop on “circular economy cooperation between organisations” directly embodies this target by exploring how to build symbiotic collaborations and partnerships to create a circular economy, as exemplified by the idea of a school cafeteria using surplus from a nearby fruit warehouse.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several practical metrics that could be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

• Implied Indicator for Target 11.2: The proposal to tax “single-occupancy car journeys” implies that a key metric for progress would be the reduction in the number of single-occupancy car journeys in urban areas. This could be measured through traffic data and surveys.
• Implied Indicator for Target 12.3: The discussion on food waste from wholesalers and producers, with a specific example of “10 kg of peppers,” suggests an indicator could be the volume (in kg or tonnes) of food waste reduced or redistributed at the production and wholesale levels.
• Implied Indicators for Target 12.5:
  • The proposal to expand “Estonia’s Deposit Return Scheme to also include other types of reusable packaging” implies an indicator could be the number and variety of reusable packaging systems implemented or the rate of return and reuse of these containers.
  • The focus on encouraging repair suggests an indicator could be the rate of clothing and item repair versus the rate of new purchases or replacements.
• Implied Indicator for Target 17.17: The “Opening Symbiosis” workshop’s goal was to foster cooperation. Progress could be measured by the number of new inter-organisational partnerships formed to create circular solutions for resource and waste management.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: zerowasteeurope.eu