Plastics have become an integral part of our daily life: from plastic straws and shopping bags to laptop  computers and construction materials. The linear model  of “take, make, use, and dispose” plastic materials poses  a grave threat to the sustainability of our economy  and environment. By 2050 there will be about  12 billion tonnes of plastic litter in landfills and the  natural environment. Recent research also suggests  that cost of plastics on environmental degradation,  climate change, and health hazards are reaching  US$139 billion annually.

In alignment with UNDP Strategic Plan and GEF’s programming directions, the GEF Small Grants Programme, implemented by UNDP, has been providing technical and financial support to projects led by civil society organizations and communities to test innovative approaches and practices for plastic waste management through a circular economy  approach, which promotes closed-loop production and consumption. Such innovative  practices include promoting “reduce, reuse, and recycle” plastics through material  engineering and product design, shifting consumer use and behaviour, and developing sound approaches to waste collection and management.