Karachi, The National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first organization in Pakistan to be recognized as an Organizational Affiliate by the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA). This prestigious affiliation, officially communicated on July 24, 2023, acknowledges NUMS’s commitment to implementing Zero Waste practices.
According to National University of Medical Sciences, NUMS’s Environmental Stewardship Committee (NESC) submitted the successful application to ZWIA, a US-based organization formed in 2003 to promote sustainable waste management alternatives. ZWIA focuses on transforming wasted materials into valuable resources, thereby creating employment and business opportunities.
NUMS’s recognition as an Organizational Affiliate grants it access to a global network of institutions dedicated to zero waste programs and environmental stewardship. NUMS has adopted a comprehensive Zero Waste Policy and has been actively implementing Zero Waste Management since mid-2021. Within the first ten months, NUMS successfully reduced its waste sent to landfills by 75% at its PWD campus. These efforts align with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption & Production. Notably, NUMS is the first medical university in Pakistan ranked for SDG 12 and ranks 9th among all universities in the country for this goal.
ZWIA defines Zero Waste as a conservation strategy for responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without harming the environment. NUMS’s Zero Waste Management includes segregation of waste at the source and eco-friendly disposal. The categorized waste includes recyclables (paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, glass), compostable (food and garden waste), and landfill waste.
Moreover, NUMS promotes the 5 Rs of Zero Waste – Reducing, Reusing, Recycling, Rotting (Compost), and Raising awareness, to motivate behavioral changes within the NUMS community.
The NUMS Green Office, expressing gratitude for the support from the university’s leadership, faculty, staff, and students, especially the NESC and Green Youth Movement Club, highlights this achievement as a step towards making Pakistan a cleaner and greener country.