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Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (ZERI) was founded by
Gunter Pauli in 1994 at the
United Nations University (UNU) with support from the Japanese Government. The stated aim of the initiative is to design a new business model that could operate without generating emissions or waste. Originally, ZERI was headquartered at UNDP in Geneva, and later at
IUCN in Gland, but how been decentralized into 34 project offices around the world. [1] The common vision of the ZERI network is to find and improve
sustainable solutions for society, from unreached communities[by whom?] to corporations, inspired by what is locally available.[2][3]
History
ZERI participated in the World Expo in 2000 in Hanover, Germany. For the event they built a bamboo pavilion.[4]
They were recognized by the
Specialty Coffee Association of America in 2009 for their 15 year project using waste from coffee farms in Columbia to grow Shitake mushrooms. It was estimated to have produced 10,000 jobs.[5][6]
At the 20th anniversary of the creation of ZERI on November 12, 2014 at the UNU in Tokyo, it was reported that 34 organizations from around the world associated and inspired by this initiative of Gunter Pauli, have implemented 188 projects, mobilized €4 billion in capital and generated approximately 3 million jobs. [citation needed]
ZERI International board
The board consist(ed) of the following people: [citation needed]