Zero Waste Malaysia handbook nominated for international competition

The tireless efforts of Zero Waste Malaysia volunteers to launch the green handbook has finally paid off. Photos: Khor Sue Yee

Non-profit organisation Zero Waste Malaysia's (ZWM) handbook, MY Zero Waste Life - Summarized, has been nominated as one of the top 15 projects (international category) at Germany's 5th Creative Bureaucracy Festival.

The top three winners will receive an invitation to present their project in Berlin on June 2. Winners will be determined via online voting which ends March 25, 7am, and by a panel of judges.

MY Zero Waste Life - Summarized, launched last July, is a unique compilation of valuable insights, nifty hacks, anecdotes and helpful information from experts and practitioners on sustainable living communicated through engaging illustrations and stories.

The free-to-access guide targeting Malaysians of all races and creeds is available in Malay, English, Mandarin and Tamil.

Khor is honoured by the nomination, saying it is an excellent opportunity to highlight the green group's efforts in promoting sustainability and a zero-waste lifestyle.

ZWM co-founder Khor Sue Yee is honoured with the nomination, saying it is an excellent opportunity to highlight the green group's efforts in promoting sustainability and a zero-waste lifestyle.

Khor credited the NGO's active Facebook community, which has garnered over 40,000 members, for launching the educational handbook.

"Slowly but surely, ZWM is starting to expose its work to other countries. Hopefully, we can inspire more people to be more aware of climate issues. Our volunteers worked very hard to publish the handbook. We couldn't have done it without their help," Khor said during a phone interview in Kuala Lumpur.

The Creative Bureaucracy Festival celebrates outstanding innovation in the public sector and its contribution to a better and more sustainable world.

Composting is one of the ways towards a sustainable lifestyle. Photo: Filepic

Last year's award winner was Think City, a special projects vehicle of Khazanah Nasional Berhad to spearhead urban regeneration exercises.

ZWM was inspired to launch the handbook due to the ongoing issue of plastic pollution and landfill overloading in Malaysia.

Khor said the design of the 29-page book was inspired by Pinterest, an image-sharing and social media format, to exude a simplistic and fun approach. It took eight months for Khor and a team of 20 volunteers to complete the handbook.

"Many people think that zero waste efforts are boring and complicated. We made the handbook functional so that readers could read it easily. The book is easy to navigate, with mind maps, quizzes and statistical elements."

The book is divided into three segments – Daily Lifestyle, Community Support and Systemic Change.

ZWM has also released an online interactive version of the handbook and an extensive Trash Encyclopedia that provides alternative solutions to disposing household waste.

In 2019, ZWM was honoured as the Commonwealth Points of Light for their exceptional work as waste reduction champions. The award was presented by the Earl of Wessex, Prince Edward, who handed them a certificate signed by Queen Elizabeth II.

For more details, visit ZWM's website or Facebook page.