Supporting Competitive Block Grant Investments to Reduce Plastic Waste

> Supporting circular plastic economy solutions to reduce plastic waste by implementing a program of regional competitive block grant investments, providing Regional Competitive Block Grants (“RBGs”) to eligible organizations in South Asia (“Eligible RBG Beneficiaries”).

> Facilitating exchange of circular plastic economy knowledge between Eligible RBG Beneficiaries and selected South Asian countries and promoting awareness raising activities.

Leveraging Public and Private Sector Engagement and Solutions

> Supporting development of strategies, action plans, policies, and standards to harmonize plastic pollution mitigation measures through: (a) developing and implementing a multi-year plastic policy support program, working with leading universities and organizations; (b) developing a database for lifecycle analysis, data collection, and modelling related to plastic across selected industry value chains; and (c) supporting communication activities.

> Supporting circular use of plastic in the economy through regional public private collaboration and engagement in South Asia, including designing and organizing annual or more frequent meetings of representatives from public and private sectors.

Strengthening Regional Integration Institutions

> Carrying out works to support construction of SACEP’s new headquarters and providing technical assistance to, and building capacity of, SACEP to discharge its functions, including coordination with relevant regional organizations and uniform collection, analysis, and interpretation of pollution data.

> Supporting the development of a fund for the sustainability of existing activities and accelerating circular plastic economy solutions (“Sustainability Fund”).

> Avoid plastic wherever possible and replace it with alternative, eco-innovative materials.
> Opt for minimal or no packaging and refuse single-use plastics (e.g. bags, bottles, utensils, straws, lids).
> Plan ahead. Carry reusable alternatives.
> Talk about it. Educate and empower your friends and family to adopt a plastic-conscious mentality.

> Inform yourself on local recycling and composting
> Support businesses that support the oceans – look for recycling and upcycling initiatives, plastic alternatives, waste reduction policies, etc.
> Participate in a beach cleanup (or lake, river, park cleanup). It’s one thing to talk about the problem and another to confront it head on.
> Speak up. If you come across a major pollution source or plastic waste emergency, let Parley know

> To solve plastic for good, we must reinvent the material, methods and thinking behind it. Get creative. We have imaginations for a reason.
> Question both the reason-to-be and end-of-life for every item you use.
> Support the use of eco-innovative materials and alternatives to plastic
> Support/implement policies that prevent unnecessary plastics (like microbeads and plastic bags).