The United Kingdom has launched a significant environmental initiative through its Sustainable Blue Economies Programme, targeting plastic pollution reduction across five Small Island Developing States (SIDS). In collaboration with nonprofit organization Common Seas, the UK has funded the development of comprehensive policy strategies for Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Papua New Guinea, Tuvalu, and St Lucia to address marine plastic contamination over the next decade.
This environmental partnership represents a crucial component of the UK government’s broader commitment to enhancing economic and climate resilience in vulnerable island nations. In Grenada specifically, Common Seas worked extensively with the Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy through multi-stakeholder engagement to produce a detailed recommendations report.
The methodology involved establishing a plastic pollution baseline by building upon existing initiatives, conducting literature reviews, additional research, targeted interviews, and market data analysis. Common Seas employed their UN-endorsed Plastic Drawdown tool to project plastic pollution growth over the coming ten years and model the most effective policy interventions.
Key recommendations for Grenada outline strategies that could achieve up to 79% reduction in plastic pollution (equivalent to 352 tonnes annually). These include:
– Implementing measures targeting plastic water bottles through enhanced Deposit Return Schemes, increased water refill infrastructure, and phased bans on single-use plastic bottles
– Addressing other single-use plastics through taxation of plastic bags and food packaging, alongside developing refill systems for food takeaway containers
– Establishing source segregation systems for plastic waste separation
– Enhancing on-the-go waste collection and combating littering through increased enforcement and improved recycling infrastructure
– Upgrading solid waste management and wastewater systems with improved household collections and enhanced standards for waste transportation, storage, and handling
Tim Hemmings, UK Special Envoy for Small Island Developing States, emphasized: “The UK is proud to stand with Small Island Developing States as they work to protect their ocean environments and build resilient, sustainable blue economies. We are committed to supporting SIDS in strengthening ocean protection and safeguarding the natural resources vital to their prosperity.”
Thais Vojvodic, Director of Partnerships at Common Seas, added: “We have co-developed ambitious policy reports that enable our partners to radically reduce plastic pollution. By developing a deep understanding of the challenge in each country and identifying practical solutions, SIDS can turn the tide on plastic pollution and drive blue economy resilience.”