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The announcement was made during the third edition of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��) Leaders Forum in Switzerland, Geneva, today.

Plastic pollution is a global crisis that transcends boundaries and affects us all. Governments, the private sector, civil society, academia, communities must work together if we are to protect nature, biodiversity and human health. We must support new approaches to reduce, reuse and recycle plastics. This funding and continuing commitment from the US State Department, announced here at the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Leaders Forum, will ensure the continuing, successful implementation of the EPICC partnership as it seeks to expand its reach,” ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Director General, Dr Grethel Aguilar said.

John Thompson, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, for Environment in the Department of State’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, announced the funding, increasing the total investment for the project from the US Department of State to $28 million. This additional support demonstrates the US’s continuous commitment to enhancing robust multi-stakeholder cooperation and is a vital step towards scaling EPPIC’s collective efforts.         

“This significant contribution underscores the United States' commitment to supporting sustainable solutions and addressing the global challenge of plastic pollution. It reinforces our dedication to tackling plastic pollution and strengthens our collaboration with our hosts, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��, The Ocean Foundation, the Aspen Institute, and Searious Business,” Dr John Thompson said.

EPPIC seeks to galvanize global action on plastic pollution by supporting projects around the world to make the full lifecycle of plastic more sustainable, starting with efforts to change the design and use of plastic products. The partnership is hosted and implemented by ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��, the Aspen Institute (US), The Ocean Foundation (US), and Searious Business (NL). It has gained attention for its commitment to enhance cooperation among diverse stakeholders, uniting governments, businesses, civil society, and philanthropies to tackle the global plastics crisis.

The announcement of additional US funding comes as EPPIC prepares to scale its impact, focusing on sustainable solutions to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste. This support will strengthen efforts to raise public awareness, support policy development to address barriers to implementing a circular plastic economy, and drive multi-stakeholder business development, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Sized Enterprises in the upstream and midstream stages of plastic life cycle.

The initiative aims to support national efforts on curbing plastic pollution, while contributing to the successful implementation of a comprehensive and inclusive international agreement. Currently focused on Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, EPPIC plans to expand its reach to additional regions by collaborating with similar initiatives worldwide, amplifying its global impact through strategic partnerships. 

So far, the initiative has launched in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Senegal, with upcoming initiatives planned in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and several Small Island Developing States (SIDS) across Africa. EPPIC is currently accepting applications in Africa for its Grant Program, which seeks to fund in-country projects that address upstream and midstream plastic pollution interventions. These projects are designed to align with EPPIC’s mission to prevent waste throughout the plastic lifecycle, supporting innovative approaches to reduce demand and maximize circularity.

Additionally, the soon-to-be-launched EPPIC Innovation Prize will incentivise cutting-edge approaches to address key challenges and promote plastic circularity. By fostering innovation, the prize will seek to identify and support scalable projects capable of making a significant impact in the global effort to build a circular economy for plastics.

This increased investment is also timely as EPPIC looks ahead to the upcoming Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution meeting (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, in November. INC-5 is expected to be a pivotal moment for global action, and EPPIC serves as an important complement to the global agreement countries are negotiating by engaging partners beyond national level governments to take on ambitious commitments to address plastic pollution at a global level. 

As the world faces escalating plastic pollution - an estimated 20 million metric tons of plastic litter end up in the environment every year - this renewed commitment reinforces the importance of collaboration and innovation in adopting a circular plastics economy. With EPPIC at the forefront of this effort, stakeholders are hopeful for a transformative impact leading into the next phase of international negotiations. 

EPPIC is actively seeking members to join the partnership. To learn more, please contact us at [email protected].

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