As the Sustainability Office of Maltepe University, we are pleased to announce that we have initiated preparations for a new national initiative aimed at increasing environmental awareness among young people and promoting a culture of sustainable living within the framework of World Environment Day on 5 June and Türkiye's Zero Waste Week celebrated between 1–7 June.
The preparations are currently underway for the documentary competition entitled "From Young Eyes to the Future: Sustainable Fashion and Circular Living Documentary Competition", which aims to showcase university students' creative perspectives on sustainability, circular economy, zero waste, conscious consumption, climate change, and youth engagement.
The competition's scope, application requirements, jury structure, and award categories will be announced to the public during June 2026 following the completion of evaluation processes conducted in collaboration with our academic units and stakeholders. The initiative is founded upon the vision of highlighting sustainable fashion, circular living, and the capacity of young people to develop solutions for environmental challenges.
Today, the world stands at a critical turning point where billions of tons of waste are generated annually and natural resources are being depleted at an unprecedented rate. Therefore, the zero waste approach is not merely an environmental policy; it is also recognized as a global transformation movement supporting sustainable development, resource efficiency, and climate action.
With the leadership of Türkiye, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2022 proclaiming 30 March as the "International Day of Zero Waste." As a result, the zero waste approach has become a globally recognized and supported policy framework. Türkiye also considers the zero waste approach among the priority themes of the COP31 process, which will be hosted in Antalya in 2026.
The Zero Waste approach aims to:
• Prevent waste generation,
• Promote a culture of reuse,
• Strengthen the circular economy,
• Increase resource and energy efficiency,
• Support the fight against climate change,
• Encourage sustainable consumption and production patterns.
As the Sustainability Office of Maltepe University, we believe that young people are not only the leaders of tomorrow but also the transformation actors of today.
For this reason, we invite all university students to:
Observe,
Question,
Tell Their Stories,
Document,
And Become Part of the Change.
Coming Soon...
"From Young Eyes to the Future" National Documentary Competition
The story of the future will be told through your camera.
Stay tuned for the June 2026 announcement.
