EPPIC

Policy in Practice

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.

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.

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.

REUSE SYSTEMS

Executive Summary

Timeline of reuse activities

Our Sustainable Packaging Helpdesk is available in EPPIC countries in all languages. Going live in January 2025. More info:

Sustainable Packaging Helpdesk

Name/Nombre/Nom

First Name

Last Name

Email/Correo electrónico/E-mail

Country/País/Pays

Where is your company based? Priority will be given to EPPIC target countries/ ¿Dónde está ubicada su empresa? Se dará prioridad a los países objetivo de EPPIC/ Où est basée votre entreprise ? La priorité sera donnée aux pays cibles d'EPPIC.

Company name and type/Nombre y tipo de empresa/ Nom et type d'entreprise

In which sector is your company active? i.e Hospitality, Homecare, Retail etc./ ¿En qué sector trabaja su empresa? Es decir, hostelería, atención domiciliaria, comercio minorista, etc/ Dans quel secteur votre entreprise est-elle active ? Par exemple, hôtellerie, soins à domicile, vente au détail, etc.

Number of employees/ Numero de empleadas/ Nombre d'employés

What percentage of your employees are women in leadership roles?/ ¿Qué porcentaje de sus empleados son mujeres en puestos de liderazgo?/ Quel pourcentage de vos employés sont des femmes occupant des postes de direction ?

This is for research purposes only. Your answer will not affect our offer./ Esto es solo para fines de investigación. Su respuesta no afectará nuestra oferta/ Cela est uniquement destiné à des fins de recherche. Votre réponse n'affectera pas notre offre.

What is your current packaging?/ ¿Cuál es su embalaje actual?/ Quel est votre emballage actuel ?

What is your question?/ ¿Cual es tu pregunta?/ Quelle est votre question ?