Global: Not wasting the waste

S. Ushakumari is a horticulturist in India who has been working with a public interest research organization, Thanal, for the past 22 years. Part of her life’s work is a movement which is sweeping the globe: zero waste. Instead of seeking to 'manage' waste, this philosophy and campaign aim to eliminate it. Zero waste considers the entire life cycle of material objects - natural resource extraction, processing, production, transportation, consumption, and disposal - which is exhausting the planet’s resources and creating increased pollution. This is part of 'Birthing Justice: Women Creating Economic and Social Alternatives'.