GHANA – The End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC) has joined the global fight against plastic waste, officially launching in September 2023 as a public-private initiative to tackle the plastic pollution crisis.

Spearheaded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with support from The Ocean Foundation, Aspen Institute, Searious Business, and the U.S. Department of State, EPPIC is dedicated to implementing actionable solutions to address plastic waste worldwide.

EPPIC aims to drive sustainable plastic management through targeted actions in countries across Central America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The initiative emphasizes upstream and midstream solutions to advance circular approaches, promote sustainable product designs, and support policies aligned with scientific evidence.

Key to this mission is also empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to eliminate single-use plastics and develop innovative, circular business models.

EPPIC’s efforts in Africa will extend to Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa. In Ghana, EPPIC has partnered with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), hosting an inception workshop in Accra to outline the program’s framework and highlight potential benefits in Ghana’s fight against plastic pollution.

Collaboration and innovation at the core

EPPIC is creating a collaborative platform to unite public and private sector stakeholders, bridging global policies with local action to foster a new, sustainable plastics economy.

Speaking virtually from Washington, D.C., IUCN’s Senior Programme Coordinator, Janaka De Silva, explained that EPPIC will work with policymakers to develop science-informed strategies that support circular economy practices in plastics management.

Additionally, the initiative will directly support SMEs by promoting reuse and refill systems and engaging NGOs and civil society to ensure inclusivity across demographics and vulnerable groups.

Ghana’s role and challenges in plastic management

EPPIC aims to drive collaborative action in Ghana through partnerships with government agencies, businesses, and community organizations.

This collaboration will involve crafting action plans, securing grants, and identifying partners committed to reducing plastic waste.

According to MESTI Director of Environment Dr. Peter Dery, while pilot initiatives in plastic management exist, EPPIC brings a transformative approach crucial to the scale of change needed.

“This initiative builds upon ongoing efforts and serves as a reminder to remain focused as we negotiate an international agreement on plastics,” Dr. Dery said.

He stressed that plastic pollution is a cross-border issue that demands coordinated action across nations, highlighting the role of multilateral environmental agreements in addressing shared challenges.

Additionally, he pointed out that plastics contribute to biodiversity loss, citing Target 7 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which identifies plastic as a key threat to biodiversity.

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