EPPIC is a public-private partnership hosted by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with partners the Aspen Institute (USA), The Ocean Foundation (USA), and Searious Business (NL), with initial seed funding from the U.S. Department of State. EPPIC convenes governments, business, civil society, philanthropies, and others to have reach and create opportunities that no single philanthropy, NGO, company, or national government could create on its own.
Contact: Clarke Williams
clarke.williams@aspeninstitute.org
+1-703-554-7378
Washington, D.C, September 21, 2023– Plastic pollution is a global crisis. It transcends national boundaries, affecting our natural world and its biodiversity. It impacts our environment, health, food security, and economies. Millions of tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, and untold millions of tons more pollute lands and waterways. Plastic waste persists in the environment for centuries, or even longer. To protect the health of our planet and its inhabitants, we must act now to end plastic pollution.
The End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative (EPPIC) seeks to galvanize global action on plastic pollution by supporting projects around the world to make the full lifecycle of plastic more sustainable, starting with efforts to change the design and use of plastic products.
The EPPIC approach will build on existing partnerships and networks that have been established in the regions and avoid duplication of efforts. Technical experts from EPPIC’s initial partner organizations have worked with NGOs and businesses on real-world plastic circularity solutions, developed national plastic inventories in collaboration with governments, convened and facilitated knowledge networks across diverse stakeholder platforms, delivered plastic policy at global and national levels, and promoted innovative action through prizes and grants.
More information
EPPIC is actively seeking new partners. If you wish to know more about EPPIC’s goals, partnership opportunities, or the governance of the programme, please reach out to Janaka De Silva and Lynn Sorrentino at plastics@iucn.org.
About the Consortium Leadership
The Mission of the United States Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs leads U.S. diplomacy to conserve and protect the global environment, ocean, and space for the prosperity, peace, and security of this and future generations. Read more here.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Since 2014, IUCN has been addressing the impact of plastics globally, with a focus on the marine environment. IUCN supports and builds capacity for countries to effectively negotiate the International, Legally Binding Instrument for Plastic Pollution. Read more here.
The Ocean Foundation’s Plastics Initiative works to address plastic pollution by engaging with international, national, and sub-national policy efforts. They are an accredited NGO Observer to the United Nations Environment Programme, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution, the Science Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and to Prevent Pollution, and the Basel Convention. The Ocean Foundation works with NOAA to advance the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development by aligning partners, securing financial commitments, and increasing stakeholder engagement, and is implementing a US Department of State grant to establish the Marine Debris Foundation. Read more here.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visitwww.aspeninstitute.org.
Searious Business is a leading game-changer in the plastics industry, with an overarching mission to reduce plastic pollution at the source. Over the last 7 years, they have strengthened the private sector, facilitated systemic change, and influenced behavioral change within the industry. As an Advisor to the UN on the Global Plastics Agreement, to the Business Coalition for a Plastics Treaty, Reusable Packaging Association, several investors, and in multiple Plastic Pacts, their reach is global. Read more here.