Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives

Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (ZERI) is a research initiative that was founded by Gunter Pauli in 1994 at the United Nations University(UNU) with support from the Japanese Government. The initiative was established three years before the Kyoto Protocol was agreed upon in 1997, with the aim of designing a new business model that could operate without generating emissions or waste.

Pauli led a team of scientists who were inspired by the workings of natural ecosystems to develop the proposal for a system that cascades nutrients, materials, and energy to ensure that all resources are used in the production and consumption process. The approach proposed by ZERI is based on the idea of creating closed-loop systems that minimize waste and maximize the efficient use of resources.

The principle of ZERI is that the only species capable of making something no one desires, is the human species. In 1996, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Gunter Pauli decided to create the ZERI Foundation with the goal to translate the designs into pioneering experiences. Originally, ZERI was headquartered at UNDP in Geneva, and later at IUCN in Gland. However, by 2008 the members decided to convert the central organization into a decentralized, time and place specific structures. By 2014, there are 34 project offices around the world.

Emphasizing the vast potential of such innovations, Gunter Pauli initiated The Blue Economy concept in 2009. The book was accepted on November 2, 2009 as a Report to the Club of Rome.