The Future of Plastic Waste, Seychelles

How can we reduce plastic dependency through the development of measurable and sustainable solutions for plastic collection and processing?

To address this issue, 3 projects have been selected by The Future Of Plastic Waste committee 

Tools and approaches

The Future Of® program, developed by the social enterprise firm SoScience, aims to bring together 30 to 50 actors from research, business, social economics and NGOs to create multi-stakeholder collaborations to address previously identified environmental or societal challenges.

• 1 topic « plastic waste » linked to four of the sustainable development goals
• 2 meeting days organized online on May the 27th and 28th 2021
• 38 international experts from diverse sectors and fields linked to the topic

6 project proposals were submitted by the deadline for submissions

In November 2021, the selection committee determined the 3 projects that will benefit from 6 months of follow-up and a start-up budget to accompany and build solid partnerships (project management, network and funding opportunities) 

• Recycling machine
• Collect-Connect
• Awareness campaign on plastics

Context

At a time when we are faced with 5.7 billion tons of unrecycled plastic waste worldwide, the devastating impact on land and oceans is obvious. The ever-increasing and staggering amount of packaging plastics consumed is choking our natural habitats and amplifying the production of greenhouse gases while contributing to global temperature increases.

The guidelines of the circular economy model call for the reduction, reuse, and recycling of plastics as opposed to the old linear consumption credo, produce, use, throw away. Can we provide a systemic solution based on the following measures: regulation, education and innovation? What new ideas, materials or systems could we propose and turn into opportunities for a better planet and social inclusion?

In most countries of the northern hemisphere, plastic waste collection and transport systems are well established. However, examples of robust and functional systems that integrate formal and informal collection and transport sectors are still lacking today in the South and particularly in small economies. An inclusive solution can pave the way for other States with similar potential in the global South. Can we create a robust system that will be financially sustainable, socially inclusive and improve our environment?

The challenge is to support the emergence of concrete projects that illustrate this development strategy with clear priority given to innovative initiatives carried out by local entrepreneurs in particular, and who are inspired by the proposals of the circular economy (better waste management, better valorization of joint products from existing economic activities) to develop income-generating activities for local populations, and integrated into the existing sectors of the blue economy on the ground (fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, etc.).

Workshop to define the problem, October 31st 2020

Participants included the TFOPW team and partners, as well as representatives from sectors related to the issue, such as the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Environment, the Post Office, and the University of Seychelles.

Team

Yoann Malinge, SoScience

Katrin Perchat, Yes Consuting

Yannick Memee, SIDS Youth AIMS Hub (SYAH)

Fatime Kanté, Blue Economy Department Seychelles

Beryl Nagapin, Entreprise Seychelles Agency (ESA)

Partners