EPPIC

Policy in Practice

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The End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC) is a public-private initiative funded by the U.S. Department of State and hosted by a consortium including IUCN, The Ocean Foundation, the Aspen Institute, and Searious Business.

EPPIC galvanizes global efforts to combat plastic pollution through a "whole-of-society" approach, focusing on upstream and midstream solutions within the plastics lifecycle. Capacity-building is supported through grants, innovation prizes, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders. MSMEs are empowered to scale sustainable practices via training workshops, networking hubs, a technical helpdesk and tailored business development support. Additionally, countries receive assistance with policy development to advance the transition to a circular economy for plastics.

Key Elements

Business Development – Supports in-country organizations and MSMEs with technical and organizational assistance to scale reuse/refill infrastructure.

Grant Program – Funds in-country projects focused on locally relevant upstream and midstream solutions.

Innovation Prize – Inspires groundbreaking global solutions for plastic pollution and promotes plastic circularity.

Convenings – Brings together diverse public and private stakeholders to foster new ideas, navigate policy, and collaborate on business solutions.

Policy – Partners with national governments and stakeholders to co-create policy recommendations that advance circular solutions.

Infographic with logos and information about various activities and organizations. Includes hexagons with texts like 'Policy & Grants,' 'Technical Advice and Business Development,' and 'Convenings Innovation prize.' Features logos for IUCN, The Ocean Foundation, and aspeninstitute. A hand holds a magnifying glass over details on 'Activities REUSE,' highlighting 'Market and Investment Research,' 'Tools & Testing,' and 'Policy recommendations.'

EPPIC Business Development

The EPPIC Business Development program empowers MSMEs in Africa and Latin America to cut plastic waste through up and midstream solutions like reusable packaging and sustainable design.

By connecting businesses through national and regional hubs, EPPIC fosters collaboration and innovation. With investment matchmaking, knowledge sharing, and a national helpdesk offering tailored advice, EPPIC strengthens efforts to prevent and reduce plastic pollution. Online training for reusable packaging will also be available starting in early 2025.

Flowchart depicting stages of packaging and waste management: Upstream design and production focuses on minimizing packaging, standardizing formats, and creating guidelines for recyclable materials like plastics; Midstream involves using systems like refill food options, refillable beverage bottles, and reusable containers; Downstream highlights recycling, waste-to-energy, and environmental clean-ups.

Reuse systems are a crucial midstream intervention that directly prevents plastic waste by keeping products and packaging in circulation longer. However, establishing the infrastructure to support reuse as a primary delivery model is both complex and investment-intensive. Searious Business identified key barriers and levers for scaling reuse systems in Costa Rica, Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. The executive summary below offers strategic insights for stakeholders to implement impactful reusable packaging schemes focused on high-potential priority applications.

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REUSE SYSTEMS

Executive Summary

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Cover of the EPPIC Business Development Program executive summary, November 2024, featuring a teal bag with a recycling symbol and the word "re-use," surrounded by fallen leaves.
Union Jack flag, flag of the United Kingdom
Flag of Spain with red and yellow stripes and a coat of arms.
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Timeline of reuse activities

A timeline detailing the implementation of a reuse system from September 2024 to January 2026. The timeline includes key milestones such as identifying the most promising reuse system by the end of September 2024, building a working group by January 2025, developing a business case in October 2024, starting pilot plans in June 2025, kicking off the pilot in October 2025, and continuing into January 2026. Color-coded segments represent the years 2024, 2025, and 2026.
Infographic about EPPIC Reuse Training Workshops, offering free online sessions for adopting reusable packaging. General workshops held in various countries cover topics like circular economy, reuse opportunities, legislation, and practical implementation. Specialized training sessions on reusable packaging for production, retail, hospitality, and transport are scheduled for mid-2025. Contact and organizer information provided at the bottom.
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Our Sustainable Packaging Helpdesk is available in EPPIC countries in all languages.
Going live in January 2025. More info:

Flag of the United Kingdom (Union Jack) with red, white, and blue colors.
Flag of Spain with red and yellow stripes and a coat of arms on the left side.
Flag of France with vertical stripes of blue, white, and red.
Flag of Costa Rica with horizontal blue, white, and red stripes
Flag of Guatemala with blue and white vertical stripes and a central emblem featuring a quetzal bird, a parchment, crossed rifles, and olive branches.
Flag of Ghana with red, yellow, and green horizontal stripes and a black star in the center.
Flag of Kenya with black, white, red, green stripes, and a Maasai shield and spears emblem.
Flyer for Sustainable Packaging Helpdesk with information about a support service for reusable packaging. It includes contact email helpdesk@seariousbusiness.com, details on getting answers and optional video calls, and mentions online reuse training workshops from 2025. Logos of sponsoring organizations are displayed at the bottom.

EPPIC Reuse Training Workshops

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