Combating plastic pollution: preventing it at the source to bring about lasting change in practices

To put this approach into practice, the FFEM and the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions (BRS) have signed a            €2 million funding agreement. This regional project aims to combat plastic pollution in Cape Verde, Senegal, and more broadly across French-speaking West Africa.

It supports partner countries in:

• Implementing the amendments to the Basel Convention;
• Preparing for the future international treaty on plastic pollution;
• Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The project is based on an integrated approach to plastic waste management centered around five complementary pillars:

• Actively promoting reduction at the source;
• Strengthening controls on cross-border movements;
• Environmentally sound management of plastic waste;
• Raising awareness among public and private stakeholders;
• Monitoring and evaluating results

The objective is clear: to sustainably reduce plastic waste generation, limit its dispersion in the environment, and improve its management, while combating illicit trafficking.

This initiative is fully aligned with the One Health approach, which highlights the close links between human, animal, and environmental health.  Preventing pollution, particularly plastic pollution, thus becomes a key lever for reducing global health risks. These issues will be at the heart of discussions at the upcoming One Health Summit in Lyon on April 6 and 7, 2026, which will bring together public officials, scientists and technical experts, private sector representatives, civil society, and international organizations to address health, environmental, and climate challenges. 

The pilot projects implemented in these countries aim to test and develop innovative solutions that reduce waste generation, improve waste management, and promote circular economy models.

In Cape Verde and Senegal, initiatives focus primarily on the main sources of plastic waste, including packaging, bottles, and—in Senegal—water bags.

Innovative pilot projects are being rolled out to test concrete solutions, including:

• Reducing plastic use in hotels and restaurants (Cape Verde);
• Implementing deposit-return systems for PET bottles (Cape Verde and Senegal);
• Installation of water dispensers to replace plastic bags (Senegal);
• Recycling of fishing nets (Cape Verde and Senegal);
• Transformation of plastic waste into school furniture (Senegal);
• Development of “plastic-free schools” (Cape Verde and Senegal);
• Promotion of locally produced reusable bags (Cape Verde);
• Beach cleanup and citizen science initiatives.

These initiatives bring together a wide range of stakeholders—the private sector, civil society, local governments, and academia—and aim to demonstrate that solutions that are effective, sustainable, and replicable can be implemented on a large scale.

This year, International Zero Waste Day focuses on food: what we eat, what we waste, and how we can move toward a circular future. Plastic pollution is closely linked to food systems, particularly through packaging, distribution, and food preservation.

Taking action at the source helps:

• Reduce food-related waste;
• Reduce food waste;
• Conserve natural resources.

This involves practices such as:

• Eco-design of packaging;
• Reducing single-use items;
• Optimizing distribution channels.

Between 19 and 23 million tons of plastic waste enter aquatic ecosystems each year, and without urgent action, this figure is expected to increase by 50% by 2040 (UN). Given this trend, the challenge is no longer just to raise awareness, but to take action.

Solutions already exist, but their large-scale deployment requires:

• Collective mobilization;
• Ambitious public policies;
• Increased support for innovation.

By demonstrating concrete, replicable, and economically viable models, the FFEM-BRS project helps pave the way toward a future free of plastic pollution—one that is more sustainable for future generations.