Green Portal

2022 - ongoing

Warsaw, Poland

The #EndPlasticPollution initiative will focus primarily on the retail, automotive, cosmetics, construction, FMCG and apparel industries, bringing together representatives of science and business, governments, local governments, experts and NGOs.

The goal of the initiative is to move towards smart use of plastic, i.e., eliminating it where it is not needed or can be replaced by other materials, managing waste so that it can become a secondary resource instead of polluting the planet.

In March 2022, at the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5), countries adopted a resolution calling for ending the problem of plastic waste. The resolution targets plastic pollution and addresses the full life cycle of plastic, including its production, design and waste management. Referring to its provisions, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw launched the #EndPlasticPollution initiative.

Minimizing use, recovering raw materials, reusing, but also managing waste that has already entered the environment - these are the pillars of a UNEP/GRID-Warsaw initiative to combat plastic pollution called #EndPlasticPollution. With experience in implementing sustainable development strategies, a vast information base and expert capacity, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw is creating a platform for discussion and exchange of best practices among a wide range of stakeholders, including academia and business.

Its expected result will be to join forces in action against plastic pollution, one of the outcomes of which will be the development of recommendations for the UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.

The #EndPlasticPollution will ensure the development of such measures that respond to real problems and take into account the needs of all stakeholders. The culmination of this work will be the recommendations presented in the form of a report and the subsequent support for the implementation of international law in the region.

Results can be transferred to other regions and countries, be an inspiration and motivation for the youth to share own solutions on the road to sustainable development.

For 30 years, UNEP/GRID-Warsaw has carried out numerous research and application projects in European consortia (H2020, LIFE, Erasmus+ programs), as well as its own projects to raise public awareness around the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, introduction of sustainable development principles or conservation of natural resources.