- 2 million+ people served by community-led zero waste systems across 45 cities in 19 countries
- 5 major US incinerators shut down through GAIA’s Failing Incinerators Project, which also removed incinerators from renewable energy subsidy programmes
- The Philippines’ first zero waste island province, Siquijor, achieved with GAIA’s support, with 60% of waste diverted by 2024 through 89 community recovery facilities
- Advocacy for a UN global plastics treaty, where 66 national governments now back a declining limit on plastic production
Plastics Reduction
GAIA
GAIA, or the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, is focused on fundamental systems change to promote a Zero Waste world, leading to more resilient cities and communities, social equity, and healthier environments.
GAIA is a global network of more than 1,000 organisations across over 100 countries working to advance climate solutions rooted in environmental justice.
GAIA HIGHLIGHTS:
Watch our video announcing GAIA’s addition to the portfolio
Newly added to the Global Returns Project’s portfolio!
Plastic pollution is inseparable from the climate crisis. GAIA’s addition to the Global Returns Project’s portfolio follows a lengthy assessment by the Technical Advisory Board, and a thorough review of charities tackling the plastics crisis globally, guided by a proprietary methodology.
GAIA’s approach targets root causes such as the overproduction of plastic, inadequate waste systems and the fossil fuel industry’s expansion into petrochemicals. It combines on-the-ground implementation, international policy advocacy, peer-reviewed research, and movement building across the globe.
A global force for Zero Waste
In the first 5 years of GAIA Asia-Pacific’s Zero Waste Cities programme, members successfully mobilised 262,000 households across ten flagship cities, leading to the composting of 840,335 tonnes of organic waste and the recovery of 61,380 tonnes of plastic.
The project influenced 23 local waste management policies, and efforts have continued to expand dramatically in the region.
Why GAIA’s work matters
Approximately 8 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans every year — with the proximate cause being inadequate waste systems.
Addressing the plastic crisis at scale requires changing those systems, not cleaning up after them.
Give through GRP
The plastic crisis threatens biodiversity, fisheries, public health, and the economies of coastal and island communities for whom marine ecosystems are a livelihood.
Your donation can help GAIA tackle plastic pollution at its source, facing one of the world’s most polluting industries.
Through GRP, every pound you give goes directly to the charities delivering measurable impact.
No fees. No deductions. Just real-world results.
Join us in restoring the ocean’s ability to sustain life on this planet.
