By Stanley Onyeka, Lagos
Some 25 countries have agreed to unite under the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) in a pivotal milestone in the fight against plastic pollution.
The move is said to solidify GPAP as the largest global initiative dedicated to tackling its root causes and advancing a circular plastics economy worldwide.
The growing community will continue to drive systemic solutions to key challenges such as advancing sustainable materials, strengthening recycling systems, tackling greenhouse gas emissions, and more.
Among the 25 are seven new countries – Angola, Bangladesh, Gabon, Guatemala, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania, welcomed into the GPAP membership.
The seven new countries bring fresh momentum and new perspectives to GPAP’s mission of amplifying impact, enabling best practice sharing and strengthening national and international efforts to reduce plastic pollution. Central to GPAP’s model are National Action Roadmaps – tailored, country-specific strategies informed by the network’s collective experience.
These have already mobilized $3.1 billion in investments, created safer jobs for informal waste workers and supported countries in achieving measurable progress on sustainability and climate resilience.
Speaking on the growing membership, Director of GPAP, World Economic Forum, Clemence Schmid, was quoted as saying in a statement: “Reaching this 25-nation milestone is not just a celebration of numbers, it’s a testament to the growing global determination to tackle one of the world’s most pressing challenges.
“These partnerships are not just symbolic, they represent concrete commitments to rethinking how plastics are produced, managed and reused. Together we are charting a path towards a circular plastics economy that benefits people and planet.”
With 6 million tonnes entering oceans each year and over twice that amount polluting land, mismanaged plastic waste is severely disrupting ecosystems, harming biodiversity and threatening human health and livelihoods across the world.
Urgent global challenge
Plastic waste continues to pose an urgent global challenge. With 6 million tonnes entering oceans each year and over twice that amount polluting land, mismanaged plastic waste is severely disrupting ecosystems, harming biodiversity and threatening human health and livelihoods across the world.
By uniting 25 nations under a shared framework, GPAP will drive collaborative action and innovative solutions that can help nations halt plastic waste leakage, transition to sustainable materials and protect ecosystems and livelihoods from its cascading negative impacts.
Plastic pollution is also a significant contributor to climate change, responsible for an estimated 1.8 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually. Landfill emissions such as methane – over 80 times more potent than CO₂ in the short term – can be drastically reduced through GPAP’s systemic approach to waste management.
By promoting circular systems, GPAP aims to contribute to cut emissions from the plastics sector while fostering economic growth through green jobs. It is estimated that circular solutions could create up to 6 million jobs globally by 2030, with the plastics sector driving much of this transformation.
Looking ahead, GPAP will continue to bring countries and other stakeholders together to build a circular economy for plastic across its entire life cycle and transform waste materials into valuable resources that can drive sustainable, equitable and resilient economic growth for all.
Since its launch in 2018, GPAP is said to have driven measurable progress, securing over $3.1 billion for waste management solutions, improving livelihoods for over 12,000 informal waste workers and enabling transformative impact across its growing global network.
GPAP supports countries in creating tailored National Action Roadmaps, mobilizing investments and fostering cross-sector collaboration. GPAP’s innovative, systemic approach empowers nations to tackle plastic pollution, enhancing their ability to reduce emissions and building sustainable and inclusive economies.
GPAP brings together governments, businesses, civil society and experts to combat plastic pollution and advance a circular plastics economy, translating commitments into concrete action.
