Emine Erdogan opens Zero Waste Museum at COP31 in Türkiye

Emine Erdogan, the wife of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and chair of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Zero Waste, has inaugurated the Zero Waste Museum at the COP31 venue in Antalya, bringing together the spouses of several world leaders and other distinguished guests.

Erdogan opened the museum on Thursday by cutting a ceremonial ribbon made from discarded fabric pieces and lace before touring the facility alongside the visiting dignitaries.

During the visit, they explored exhibits highlighting the historical development of zero-waste practices, the environmental impact of waste, recycling processes, the conservation of natural resources and the importance of reusing materials.

Samed Agirbas, head of the Zero Waste Foundation and COP31 Climate Champion, briefed Erdogan and the guests on efforts to prevent waste generation and recycle materials that have already been discarded.

The tour concluded with a group photograph in front of a digital tree installation, which highlights the importance of protecting nature.

Representatives of environmentally conscious civil society organisations and young people also showed strong interest in the inauguration ceremony.

Among those attending were the spouses of the presidents of Mauritania, Palau and the Maldives, as well as the wives of the prime ministers of Burundi, Eswatini and the Solomon Islands.

Other attendees included Amina El-Dilawi, wife of Libya’s prime minister, and her daughter Estabrak Abdulhamid Al Dbeibah; Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, wife of the Sultan of Malaysia’s Pahang state; and Leyla Aliyeva, daughter of Azerbaijan’s president, alongside Alyona Aliyeva.

Members of the UN High-Level Advisory Board on Zero Waste also attended, together with Turkish Family and Social Services Minister Mahinur Ozdemir Goktas, Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change Minister Murat Kurum and Gaziantep Mayor Fatma Sahin.

Several prominent figures from the arts, entertainment and sports sectors were also present.

A showcase of Türkiye’s zero-waste journey

The museum was established to share Türkiye’s accumulated knowledge, experience and practices under its Zero Waste Movement with the international community.

It showcases the movement’s nine-year journey, its national and international achievements, and initiatives promoting the circular economy.

Designed around a five-leaf architectural concept, the facility features interactive experiences, digital applications and artworks exploring waste management, recycling, resource conservation and reuse.

Visitors can also record video messages for the future at the “2035 Message Wall”.

Another feature, the “Commitment Tree”, is built around an olive tree more than 30 years old. Visitors are invited to write their environmental commitments for 2035 on leaf-shaped cards and add them to the installation, contributing to a shared vision for a sustainable future.

TRT World / َAA — TRT World / َAA