New York, NY – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has selected 24 innovators, with six more to be announced, working to beat plastic pollution across China, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia and Viet Nam. Selected under UNDP's Global Plastics Innovation Programme (GPIP), grantees receive seed funding of between US$10,000 and US$40,000, alongside technical support to develop, pilot, replicate or scale their approaches.  

The cohort spans startups, small businesses, universities, and community organizations, and is tackling plastic pollution from multiple angles: reuse and reduction systems that cut plastic consumption; alternative materials that replace conventional plastics; data and monitoring tools that give communities and policymakers the evidence to act; and waste collection and recycling models that recover materials that would otherwise be lost.

Funded by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF), GPIP supports innovators, startups and policymakers to co-develop solutions across the plastics value chain. Beyond the innovation grants, the programme funds research on sustainable plastics management, supports youth participation in global events and promotes South-South peer learning through a dedicated online knowledge hub.  

Emphasizing the broader development implications of plastic pollution, Xiaofang Zhou, Head of Cooling, Circularity and Pollution Prevention at UNDP, noted: “Plastic pollution is a complex problem. Innovative, context-specific solutions are critical to building a zero-waste, zero-pollution society – and it is equally important that these solutions help boost local employment and economic growth. This programme puts promising initiatives to the test, helping innovators grow and learn in the process.”

This week, grantees convene in Shenzhen, China for the Global Plastic Innovation Workshop and Exhibition, hosted by UNDP and Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences (SZAES). The event will bring together grantees, businesses, academic institutions, experts, young changemakers and investors to learn from each other, refine their solutions and forge partnerships to grow their work.

"Shenzhen is one of the world's leading centres for technology and innovation. Hosting this event lets us put that expertise to work on one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time: plastic pollution," said Yi Huang, SZAES Director.

GPIP sits within a broader push to turn global ambition on plastic pollution into action. With negotiations underway on a global legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution, the programme is positioning local innovators to shape and benefit from the shift to a circular economy.

"Tackling plastic pollution requires fresh thinking and local leadership. The United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund is proud to support a programme that invests in exactly that – and the Shenzhen workshop will give these innovators the tools and connections to take their solutions further," said Saras Jagwanth, programme management officer of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund of the UNPDF.

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About GPIP  

Funded by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund, the Global Plastics Innovation Programme (GPIP) runs from 2024 to 2027 across China, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, and Viet Nam. The programme supports innovators, startups, and policymakers to develop and scale solutions that reduce plastic pollution across the entire plastics value chain. More information here.

About UNDP  

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

About SZAES

Shenzhen Academy of Environmental Sciences is deeply engaged in environmental protection, owns authoritative qualifications and national key research platforms. It undertakes numerous research projects with abundant achievements and honors. Boasting solid expertise, it excels in technical research and policy optimization, powering regional ecological improvement and environmental progress.

About UNPDF

The United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) was established in 2016 with the support of the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Sub-Fund of the UNPDF supports projects and activities that contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a focus on practical results at the country level. Through the Sub-Fund, support has been provided to projects around the world in areas such as poverty alleviation, science and technology, small and medium-sized enterprises, education, health care and other areas relevant to sustainable development.

Contact:  

UNDP: Murat Okumah, Policy and Technical Specialist, murat.okumah@undp.org

SZAES: Yi Huang, President, iwongee@126.com