National Affiliates for Recognition and Certification

Zero Waste Organizations are welcome to join Zero Waste International Alliance as affiliates to represent their countries as part of the global alliance.

Affiliates are nongovernmental organizations with a national focus on zero waste and have officially adopted the ZWIA Definition of Zero Waste, ZWIA Zero Waste Business Principles and ZWIA Global Principles for Zero Waste Communities to guide their policies and programs. They also have a Board of Directors or a management committee drawn from the community and a properly constituted organization that is registered in some verifiable way with an organization in the country of origin.

There are two types of affiliates: national and organizational. Learn how to become a National Affiliate below. Learn more about Organizational Affiliates here.

ZWIA National Affiliates for Certification and Recognition Programs

Nongovernmental organizations with a national focus that have officially adopted the ZWIA Definition of Zero Waste, ZWIA Zero Waste Business Principles and ZWIA Global Principles for Zero Waste Communities to guide their policies and programs, may submit to ZWIA a statement of qualifications for playing that role, background of the organization, who will be lead for the organization, and key staff or consultant experience with doing business assessments and helping communities implement Zero Waste. Only one organization can be officially accredited by ZWIA to implement this Recognition Program in each country. That organization may authorize other organizations to operate under their oversight and guidelines.

To become a National Affiliate of ZWIA a Zero Waste organization must meet all criteria for Organization Affiliate plus:

• Only one organization can be officially accredited by ZWIA to implement this Recognition Program in each country. That organization may authorize other organizations to operate under their oversight and guidelines. A ZWIA National Affiliate could operate in more than one country until there is another approved National Affiliate for another country. ZWIA National Affiliates must be accredited annually by ZWIA. ZWIA National Affiliates shall provide ZWIA an Annual Report on their activities, including a summary of the recognitions they have done and any challenges or complaints encountered through the year regarding any entity recognized or their program.
• ZWIA National Affiliates must be approved by the ZWIA Board voting within a week of circulation. This approval must be renewed annually with a submittal by December 1st each year to ZWIA requesting such a renewal.
• ZWIA National Affiliates are authorized to charge fees for this service. In setting their fees, National Affiliates will include payment to ZWIA of 10% of the fees charged per entity for ZWIA management and oversight of the program. National Affiliate fees should be set at a level that reflects the intent for this program to sunset once there is a national certification system that includes third-party verification. If additional reviews are requested during the course of a year, additional fees would be paid.
• Once a National Affiliate develops a Certification Program, this Recognition Program may continue as an entry step in a Certification Program by recognizing those who are working toward Zero Waste that adopt the ZWIA goal of Zero Waste and a plan to achieve it.
• ZWIA National Affiliates must be approved by a quorum plus one vote of the ZWIA Board of Directors.
• ZWIA will open a seat on the ZWIA Board of Directors for one National Affiliate representative.

Become an Affiliate of the Zero Waste International Alliance

To become a National Affiliate of the Zero Waste International Alliance, please submit the form below. We will then reach out to you with more information.

Go to the National Affiliate Form Here.