At HSR Zero Waste, we believe that advancing toward a truly circular economy requires more than operational improvements. It requires leadership, collaboration, and alignment with the global standards.
Last month, the Zero Waste International Alliance (ZWIA) released Version 8.1 of the Zero Waste Hierarchy of Highest and Best Use, a globally recognized framework that helps guide sustainable materials management policies and programs. As part of our ongoing commitment to systems change, HSR Zero Waste proudly supports this update and the important leadership behind it.
As Chair of the ZWIA Zero Waste Hierarchy Working Group and President of HSR Zero Waste, Jamie Kaminski played a direct role in shaping Version 8.1, ensuring that the Hierarchy reflects today’s most urgent social and environmental realities.
“The Zero Waste Hierarchy provides a critical understanding of policies to ensure global alignment with the term ‘Zero Waste’.”
— Jamie Kaminski, Committee Chair, ZWIA Hierarchy Working Group and President, HSR Zero Waste
What’s New in Version 8.1?
This updated version builds on years of collaboration among Zero Waste experts, deepening the Hierarchy’s value as a guide for meaningful action. Key updates include:
Enhanced language under the Do Not Export Harm principle, strengthening protections to ensure hazardous materials are not sent to facilities or countries that lack proper infrastructure.
Introduce of a new principle « Do No Harm », guiding organizations to reduce negative social and environmental impacts across the full lifecycle of materials.
Updated definitions for circular economy, closed-loop systems, composting, and recycling, offering clearer and more consistent language for global application.
Why It Matters to HSR Zero Waste?
At HSR Zero Waste, these updates are more than words. They shape how we guide organizations across Canada toward meaningful, measurable Zero Waste outcomes.
Whether we’re supporting clients through Zero Waste Canada, TRUE, or LEED certification, conducting waste audits, or advising on circular policy design, our work is rooted in the standards outlined in the Zero Waste Hierarchy.
We are proud to stand alongside international leaders like ZWIA to ensure these principles are applied in real-world contexts. This update is an important milestone for the Zero Waste movement and an opportunity for organizations to reflect, realign, and take action!
Learn More
🔗 Read our newsroom announcement: HSR Supports ZWIA’s Zero Waste Hierarchy Version 8.1
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