Background

Plastics have become vital in modern society because of their attributes and the numerous benefits they offer. Plastics are versatile, durable, cost-effective and lightweight, making them ideal for diverse applications including packaging, construction materials, electronics, healthcare devices, and automotive components. However, our addiction to single-use plastic products and limited waste management capacity has led to severe environmental, social, economic, and health consequences.

Increased production and consumption rates: The first ‘Global Plastics Outlook: Economic Drivers, Environmental Impacts and Policy Options’ report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicates that plastic production has increased from 2 million tons (Mt) in 1950 to 460 Mt in 2019. This has been accompanied by a significant increase in use. About half of all plastic produced is intended for single use.

Current waste generation and limited waste management capacity:  Despite recent policy initiatives on circularity, the plastics lifecycle is only 8% circular. Today, about 400 million tons of plastic waste are produced annually. Plastic waste more than doubled from 156 Mt in 2000 to 353 Mt in 2019.  There is generally a limited waste management capacity, with only 15% and 9% of plastic waste collected for recycling and actually recycled respectively.

Mismanagement of plastic waste: 22% of plastic waste is mismanaged, ending up in uncontrolled dumpsites or burned in the open, contributing to leakage into the environment. In 2019 alone, 22 Mt of plastic waste leaked into the environment. If we do not reimagine and reset current consumption and waste management practices, by 2050 there will be about 12 billion tons of plastic litter in landfills and the natural environment.  A drastic system change is urgently needed to help us transition away from plastic pollution. 

Associated climate impact: Almost all plastics we use today are derived from fossil fuels. In 2019, plastics generated 3.4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, with 90 percent of those emissions stemming from plastic production and the conversion of fossil fuels. Projections suggest that by 2040, greenhouse-gas emissions associated with the lifecycle of plastics, including production, use and disposal, could account for up to 19 percent of the world’s carbon allowance, under the target of restricting global warming to a maximum of 1.5°C.

Leveraging Innovation to tackle plastic pollution

Innovation can be a major enabler in the transition away from plastic pollution. For instance, material innovations that involve the development of sustainable ecological alternatives to plastics may contribute to reducing the use of traditional plastics. Likewise, the development and use of refillable and reusable solutions can help reduce the volume of plastics consumed, while improved waste management methods can extend product life and reduce the use of virgin plastics. Technological innovations offer solutions for pollution monitoring, data generation and improved waste management. Innovation in governance systems including regulatory, economic, voluntary and informational instruments help to regulate or discourage practices that lead to pollution while promoting or encouraging pro-environmental behaviors. Innovative financing instruments are also critical enablers as they help to redirect financial resources and investments from practices that lead to pollution to activities that contribute to reducing plastic pollution. In addition to this, innovative financing tools could help mobilize the capital needed to address plastic pollution.

Despite the critical role of innovation towards addressing plastic pollution, the development and adoption, replication and scalability of innovative solutions remains limited. With funding from the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will support innovative solutions to address plastic pollution. This collaboration aims to experiment and promote initiatives that reduce plastic waste generation, encourage the production of sustainable alternatives and improve circular economy practices to protect the planet and people from the impacts of plastic pollution. This partnership focuses on promoting different areas of innovation across six countries: China, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tunisia, and Vietnam. Lessons and best practices will be shared to promote innovation beyond the geographical scope of the project. 

The Call 

Plastic waste is a significant environmental challenge in South Africa, driven by high consumption of single-use plastics, inadequate waste management infrastructure and low upstream recycling rates. Most of the waste ends up in landfills, illegal dumpsites or pollutes rivers and coastlines. Many landfills are nearing capacity and about a third of South Africans lack access to regular waste collection, particularly in rural and low-income urban areas. The informal waste sector plays a crucial role in collecting and sorting recyclables, but it remains under-supported and not integrated into formal waste systems, limiting the efficiency of plastic recovery.

Despite these challenges, South Africa has emerging opportunities to address plastic waste across the upstream, midstream and downstream stages through policy reforms, innovation and public-private collaboration. Initiatives such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and the South African Plastics Pact are setting ambitious targets for reducing problematic plastics, improving recycling rates and increasing the use of recycled content in packaging.  According to SA Plastic Pact, in 2020, the country had a relatively higher plastic recycling rate of about 43%, signaling substantial downstream recycling. Investments in recycling infrastructure, such as new PET processing facilities, along with community-driven waste collection programmes are creating jobs and stimulating a circular economy. 

UNDP South Africa announces a call for proposals to award small grants of up to US$30,000 to organizations and social enterprises to implement innovative solutions to plastic pollution. Through this call for proposals, UNDP is inviting applications that offer novel solutions to plastic pollution across a wide range of areas. Below is a non-exhaustive list of areas of innovations: 

• Material innovation: Material innovations may include locally sourced, minimally processed plant-based products, such as edible spoons and bamboo straws, as well as various bio-based, biodegradable and compostable materials. To prevent regrettable substitutions, comprehensive lifecycle assessments should be conducted. The regeneration rate of such materials should be assessed to determine their ability to meet large-scale market demand. 

• Design innovation: This category of innovation alters the fundamental design of a product or service towards reducing or eliminating the use of plastics. For example, transitioning from selling CDs and DVDs to offering music or video streaming services significantly lowers the plastic footprint. However, it is important to evaluate the environmental impact of new designs, as they could have adverse impacts such as increased greenhouse gas emissions (when considered across their lifecycle). 

• Business model innovation: Changing how products are delivered or shifting from product sales to service-based models can greatly decrease plastic pollution. By adopting systems for reusable or refillable products, we can eliminate the need for single-use plastic packaging.

• Technological innovation: This category involves the use of technology to support pollution monitoring, data generation and improved plastic waste management. This may include technologies that support recycling systems and processes. This may advance safe and sound recycling of waste, enhance material circulation and extend product lifespans. 

• Innovation in governance systems: This involves the development and implementation of novel regulatory, economic, voluntary and informational instruments that regulate/discourage behaviors that lead to pollution and/or promote/encourage pro-environmental behaviors. These may include novel corporate governance tools that advance green procurement and promote practices that reduce plastic pollution, resource efficiency, durability, repairability, and recyclability.

• Innovative financing instruments: This involves developing financial tools to channel financial flows into sustainable activities and mobilize funds to tackle plastic pollution. Some of these instruments and products include plastic Credits, Plastic Bond, Blue and Green Bonds, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and Blended Finance. Some of these instruments require stakeholders to prepare national sustainable finance strategies and action plans, develop taxonomies of relevant activities, and guidelines on various products.

Description of Scope of Work                

Development and implementation of innovative solutions to plastic pollution 

• Identify, pilot and/or experiment with innovative solutions to plastic pollution. 

Stakeholder engagement and awareness raising

• Participate in events to share the results and lessons learned with stakeholders.

• Maintain ongoing communication with stakeholders to sustain momentum and encourage continued engagement in waste management and environmental stewardship beyond the project scope.

Knowledge Management, Learning and Networking 

• Produce technical reports and summary documents on key activities and results; knowledge products must highlight process-based as well as outcome-based lessons. 

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• The entity will undertake participatory monitoring and evaluation of project activities, based on agreed schedules in the memorandum of agreement. The entity will have an in-built real-time monitoring process as best designed by them and be ready to provide information as requested on an ad-hoc basis.

• The entity will maintain regular consultation and contact with UNDP regarding the implementation of the project, provide acceptable project level progress (financial and narrative) reports and prepare a final evaluation report for the period of the agreement.

Project implementation structure

The selected organization will be working closely with UNDP. The selected entity will be primarily responsible for delivering the key activities outlined in this call for proposal but can rely on UNDP’s support where relevant. 

Project budget

UNDP will provide grants of up to US$ 30,000 per project for a maximum of five (5) solutions as winners. Priority will be given to organizations working with youth and women across the priority areas described in Section 3. 

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are invited from registered Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs), Cooperatives, Community-Based Organisations (CBOs)/ Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)[1] as well as research / academic institutions working with communities, mainly women and youth enterprises who have demonstrated exceptional innovation and impact in the focal areas outlined. 

• Proof of registration must accompany your application. Private companies, individuals and government entities are not eligible for funding. 

• Only one application per organisation or institution will be considered for funding. 

• Projects consisting of a single event or activity (e.g. workshop) will not be considered. 

• Organisations or grantees currently implementing ongoing projects funded by the UNDP or the GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) or those that have pending reports are not eligible to apply. 

• Co-financing and partnerships with private sector enterprises, government, associations and other stakeholders are highly encouraged. 

Submission and Deadline

Interested Organisations / Institutions are requested to submit their applications to bids.za@undp.org   on or before the 30th of September 2025 at 23h59 (South African Standard Time).  Late submissions will not be considered. A template for proposals is attached to this call or can be requested using the contact email/s below. Organizations/Institutions may be contacted for further details and shortlisted projects may be subject to validation by the evaluation committee.

Project Period

The duration of each project should be between 12 and 24 months from the signing of the Agreement.

Contact

For enquiries on this call, please email: procurement.enquiries.za@undp.org or Gefsgp.sa@undp.org 

Download the Proposal Template:  UNDP Proposal Template Plastics Innovation Programme

Annex 1: Evaluation Criteria