Supporting plastic reduction and management in East and West Africa
ECOS has embarked on a new project in East and West Africa to support a coherent framework of policies and standards to effectively address plastics pollution, including alternative solutions for material circularity, biodegradation, and compostability.
This is our first international project for the new ECOS Africa office, which opened in Kenya earlier this year. Through this project and working with our regional partners, we will share knowledge and support standardisers and policymakers in Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria in their efforts to reduce plastic waste and manage plastic pollution.
Contact marxine.waite[at]ecostandard.org
Policies and standards for plastic reduction and management in East and West Africa
This project will support policymakers and standardisers in Kenya, Ghana, and Nigeria to manage and reduce plastic by leveraging legal and policy solutions as well as relevant international, regional and national standards. With a particular focus on biodegradation and compostability, ECOS is working with strategic partners and key experts in the region to research and share knowledge that supports a coherent policy and standards framework for plastic management and circularity. Ultimately this project will support reducing plastic pollution and waste at source. Building on our experience with international standards, we will also collaborate with technical experts and standard developers to explore how international standards can be used locally to support the implementation of plastic policy and legislation.
The project outcomes will further support local partners’ input to the UN Global Plastics Treaty and contribute to the implementation guidelines of the East Africa Single Use Plastics Bill.
This project has been made possible by financial support and collaboration through the Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) programme, funded by UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented in partnership with UN Trade & Development (UNCTAD). We are also grateful for additional support from our project partners International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and ALN.
