Mission Zero Academy

23/09/2026

The EU is raising the bar on environmental claims.

From 27 September 2026, businesses will need stronger evidence to support sustainability claims and labels, making credible third-party certification more important than ever.

In our latest article, we look at what the new rules mean in practice, why independent certification matters, and how businesses can prepare.

📖 Read the article: https://zurl.co/8UNbz

📞 Want to discuss what this means for your organisation? Let's talk.

New EU rules will restrict unsubstantiated environmental claims from September 2026. Learn what businesses need to do and how certification can help.

14/09/2026

Visual, auditory, or kinaesthetic? The truth about "learning styles." 🧠⚡

When designing workshops or presentations, many sustainability professionals try to cater to different "learning styles"—assuming some people learn best by seeing, others by hearing, or others by doing.

However, educational research tells a very different story.

Welcome to Part 3 of our Learning Myths & Reality series! Swipe through the slides above to uncover why the idea of fixed learning styles is a myth—and what actually works instead. ➡️

Key takeaways:

🔬 What Research Shows: Studies consistently prove that tailoring content to alleged "learning styles" does not improve retention or understanding.

🏗️ Active Construction: True learning happens when participants actively construct new knowledge in their own minds—regardless of the sensory format.

🎯 Effective Design: Workshop activities should focus on cognitive engagement and problem-solving, not just visual or auditory delivery.

Understanding how learners actually build knowledge is a fundamental part of our upcoming Trainer Development Programme.

Ready to base your training on proven educational psychology rather than common myths? Join us this October!

🗓️ Blended Format: Oct 13 – Nov 10 (Online) + Nov 25 – 27 (Onsite in Bucharest, Romania)

🗣️ Language: English

👉 Transform your training approach—find all details and the application link below:
https://zurl.co/v0Beb

11/09/2026

3 municipalities. 3 stars. Over a decade of zero waste leadership. 🌟

Huge congratulations to Vrhnika, Log-Dragomer, and Borovnica for successfully renewing their Zero Waste Municipality Certification! 🇸🇮

As some of the very first European municipalities to join the network back in 2014, these Slovenian pioneers are showing what sustained commitment looks like:

83% average separate waste collection rate over the last decade

1.5–2 kg of hazardous waste collected per capita annually (ranking among the highest nationally)

Innovative reuse & reduction initiatives, like replacing 25,000 disposable diapers per year in local kindergartens with washable alternatives

Re-auditing through the Mission Zero Academy (MiZA) isn't just about celebrating past success—it's about mapping out the next level of progress. From expanding door-to-door collection to shifting focus from sorting toward true waste prevention, these municipalities continue to raise the bar.

Thank you to the local leadership, the Public Utility Company Vrhnika (JKPV), and most importantly, the 26,000+ residents driving circular habits every single day! 🙌

👉 Read the full story and learn how your municipality can get certified: https://zurl.co/HomSJ
brez meja / Ecologists Without Borders Association

Three Slovenian municipalities, Vrhnika, Log-Dragomer and Borovnica, have successfully renewed their Zero Waste Municipality certification, maintaining a 3-star rating and demonstrating long-term commitment to waste reduction.

09/09/2026

Is last-minute cramming sabotaging your workshop results? ⏰🧠

When preparing for a training session or workshop, we often assume that packing information tightly right before the event is the best way to keep it fresh in our learners' minds.

However, cognitive psychology shows that "massed practice" is actually one of the least effective ways to learn.

Welcome to Part 2 of our Learning Myths & Reality series! Swipe through the slides above to discover how memory retention actually works. ➡️

Key takeaways:

🧠 The Brain's Mechanism: Long-term memory requires time to forget and relearn information through a process called retrieval.

🗓️ Timing Matters: Retention isn't built in a single day—it requires spaced learning and intentional practice over time.

🛠️ Methodology: True learning isn't just about when we study, but how we engage with the material.

Designing learning journeys that align with how the brain stores memory is a core pillar of our upcoming Trainer Development Programme led by Kadri Kalle and Narantuya Gursed (Nara).

If you want to move away from quick-fix presentations and start creating long-term educational impact, join us this October!

🗓️ Blended Format: Oct 13 – Nov 10 (Online) + Nov 25 – 27 (Onsite in Bucharest, Romania)

🗣️ Language: English

👉 Ready to level up your training methodology? Check out the full programme details and apply via the link below
https://zurl.co/l3Wx7

07/09/2026

Is flashy visual design helping or hurting your training? 🎨⚡

When presenting complex sustainability topics like circular economy, ESG, or zero waste, it’s easy to assume that bold colors, heavy graphics, and dynamic slides are the best way to keep an audience engaged.

However, cognitive science suggests a very different approach.

Welcome to Part 1 of our Learning Myths & Reality series! Swipe through the slides above to see why overdesigning your slides can actually create cognitive distraction instead of real understanding. ➡️

Key takeaways:

🎯 The Goal: Encourage active thinking, not visual overload.

💡 The Solution: Keep visuals clean and simple so participants focus on processing the core material.

Mastering how the human brain actually receives and retains information is a central focus of our upcoming Trainer Development Programme with Kadri Kalle and Narantuya Gursed.

If you're ready to stop guessing and start designing workshops grounded in educational psychology, join us this October!

🗓️ Blended Format: Oct 13 – Nov 10 (Online) + Nov 25 – 27 (Onsite in Bucharest, Romania)

🗣️ Language: English

👉 Ready to transform your workshops? Check out full program details and apply via the link below! 👇
https://zurl.co/t3CaR

05/08/2026

🌱 Big news from Ukraine!

The Krasnosilska Rural Territorial Community in the Odessa Region has officially become the first rural community in Ukraine to achieve Zero Waste City Candidate status! 🇺🇦✨

Zero waste isn’t a privilege reserved for major metropolitan hubs—it is a practical, adaptable framework that empowers communities of any size to build local resilience, cut municipal costs, and protect valuable resources.

Despite ongoing national challenges, Krasnosilska is pursuing systemic, phased reform to transform its waste management into a modern resource system. The community is already leading by example with concrete, data-driven action:

📊 Completed a comprehensive waste characterisation study

📝 Initiated its Local Waste Management Plan & Strategic Environmental Assessment

🏫 Implemented organic waste composting across local schools

🌍 Partnered with international projects to modernize municipal infrastructure

We are thrilled to welcome Krasnosilska to the Zero Waste Cities family alongside our partners at Zero Waste Alliance Ukraine as they demonstrate what proactive local leadership can achieve! 👏

🔗 Read the full announcement: https://zurl.co/QUEk9

Krasnosilska becomes the first rural community in Ukraine to achieve Zero Waste City Candidate status, leading local environmental reform with MiZA.

24/07/2026

You can’t build new understanding on top of old misconceptions. 🧠💥

Ever felt like no matter how clearly you explain a sustainability topic, people stick to their old ways of thinking?

That’s because our minds don't just accept new facts—we have to actively unlearn the wrong ones first.

In this video, co-trainer, Kadri Kalle breaks down why tackling misconceptions is one of the most critical—and overlooked—parts of effective teaching.

If you want your workshops to lead to actual mindset shifts, Kadri and Narantuya Gursed (Nara) are here to help you master the psychology of learning this October.

🗓️ Starts Oct 13th: Blended online sessions + 3 days onsite in Bucharest, Romania 🇷🇴

👉 Stop fighting misconceptions and start breaking through them: https://zurl.co/M9QBT

22/07/2026

What if the way we've been taught to present sustainability is completely backwards? 🧠💡

Think about the last thing you really learned. Was it because someone gave you a flawless 45-minute slide deck? Or was it because you struggled through a problem, got it wrong, and had to figure it out?

As past participant Manon Jourdan points out in the video below, knowing your topic and helping people retain it are two completely different skills.

We often think the path to impact is: Give info ➡️ Explain clearly ➡️ Test understanding.

But what if we should be planning for productive struggle instead? Because it’s in that space that true problem-solving happens—and real knowledge gets built. 🌍✨

That’s exactly what Manon unlocked when she joined our Trainer Development Programme with Narantuya Gursed and Kadri Kalle.

If you’re ready to turn your green expertise into lasting impact, this programme will help you:

🧠 Understand the science of how memory and learning actually work.

🛑 Help stakeholders break through deep-rooted misconceptions.

🛠️ Build dynamic, highly effective learning environments (online and in person!).

Stop just sharing what you know. Start investing in how you teach.

📅 Starts: October 13th (Interactive online sessions + Onsite training days in Bucharest, Romania!)
🗣️ Language: English

👉 Ready to transform your workshops? Check out the full programme and register here: https://zurl.co/CyhZq

16/07/2026

Slowing down for the summer? ☀️☕ It’s the perfect time to skill up—and we have some exciting news to share!

Our flagship course, "Reuse Packaging System Fundamentals," is officially expanding.

To help more municipalities and businesses across Europe lead the circular transition, we are thrilled to announce that the course is now available in French and Spanish! 🇫🇷 🇪🇸 🇬🇧

If you've been wanting to design viable, scalable alternatives to single-use packaging, this self-paced course is the perfect summer project.

🎒 Why dive in this summer?

- Real-world blueprints: Study the exact frameworks used by 7 pioneering European cities (including Barcelona, Paris, and Aarhus).
- Action-oriented: Walk away with a ready-to-use, customized Reuse Action Plan for your stakeholders.
- Learn on your terms: Grab a cold drink, sit in the shade, and study at your own pace in your preferred language.

Turn a quiet summer afternoon into a major step forward for your community.

👉 Explore our courses and enroll today:https://zurl.co/PKsqw

06/07/2026

Meet your trainer: Narantuya Gursed (Nara) 🌟

Why do people sometimes tune out when we talk about critical sustainability issues? According to Nara, it’s all about understanding brain functions and educational psychology.

As the co-founder of Ecosoum NGO and a certified trainer with over a decade of experience, Nara is passionate about tailored knowledge transfer. In our upcoming Trainer Development Programme launching this October, she (alongside Kadri Kalle) will help you move past learning myths and pitfalls to create real, lasting impact.

Is this programme for you?
✅ You’re an expert in a sustainability field (ESG, zero waste, urban planning, etc.).
✅ You run workshops or presentations but want better stakeholder engagement.
✅ You’re ready to join us online and in person in Bucharest this November.

Watch Nara’s video to see what’s in store, and check out the full schedule and requirements here: https://zurl.co/t67VG