Associação Dariacordar / Zero Desperdício

Associação Dariacordar / Zero Desperdício is a Portuguese non-profit organisation dedicated to fighting waste and promoting the circular economy. Since 2011, under the motto "Nada se perde. Tudo se transforma" (Nothing is lost. Everything is transformed), it has led the Zero Desperdício movement, mobilising a national network of over 1,000 private partners, public entities and social institutions to recover surplus food, clothing and other resources before they become waste. Through its DA.360 network, the association has helped recover more than 44 million meals, redistribute over 28,000 clothing items, avoid 22,000 tonnes of food waste and 9,000 tonnes of textile waste, and prevent around 92,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, supporting more than 2 million people and 800,000 families across the country. Beyond its recovery operations, Dariacordar organises public events and round-table discussions that bring together experts, academics and institutional leaders to explore how circular economy principles can be applied across sectors — from scientific research to healthcare. It has run sessions on the circular economy in science and health, and its president has spoken at broader forums such as Connecting Healthcare, linking waste reduction to sustainability and public wellbeing. Partnerships with companies such as Freeport Lisboa Fashion Outlet (the #RELOVE textile programme) and hospitality brands demonstrate the association's practical, collaborative approach to embedding zero-waste practices into everyday commercial and institutional life. By combining direct recovery action with advocacy, education and impact measurement, Dariacordar positions itself as a key convening body for the wider zero-waste and circular economy movement in Portugal, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and ESG principles.