Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has been appointed by UN Secretary General António Guterres as member of the Advisory Board of Eminent Persons on Zero Waste.

The appointment was made in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly resolution on Zero Waste (77/161) adopted on 22 December 2022.

In a letter addressed to Professor Yunus, the UN secretary general said, "As a board member, I trust that I can count on your knowledge, experience, and expertise to promote zero-waste initiatives." and that "The Board has an important role to play in supporting zero-waste initiatives in the context of sustainable development. "

Given that the concept of "zero waste" is gaining attention worldwide as a sustainable solution to reduce waste, redesign material use and production, promote a circular economy and inform consumer choices, the secretary general expects that the multi-partner and multidisciplinary, regionally and gender balanced board will work to publicise best practices and success stories and raise awareness to promote local and national zero-waste initiatives.

The Advisory Board will consist of 13 eminent persons, including Emine Erdoğan, first lady of Türkiye (serving as chairperson); Jose Manuel Moller, chief executive officer and founder of Algramo; Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, co-founder and chairman, Yunus Environment Hub; Carlos Silva Filho, president of International Solid Waste Association (ISWA); Laura Reyes, directora of Ejecutiva Cempre – Economía circular; Lara van Druten, chief executive officer of The Waste Transformers; and Professor Saleem Ali of energy and the environment department at the University of Delaware, USA.