On 28 November 2024, the Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) project brought together changemakers in Busan, South Korea, for a knowledge-sharing event: how can South Asia tackle plastic waste while creating fair jobs and more innovative policies?

The event, hosted alongside INC-5, shared the ongoing innovative work of the PLEASE project. From bottle-to-bottle recycling in Bangladesh to plastic roads in Bhutan, refill stations in Pakistan, and bioplastics in the Maldives, innovators shared how local solutions are addressing significant challenges.

Centred inclusion in all work of the project, women-led enterprises, youth initiatives, and informal workers were highlighted as key drivers of change. Stories of dignity, new opportunities, and safer workplaces showed that reducing plastic pollution is also about lifting communities.

An interactive panel discussion with industrial experts was also convened to highlight the importance of strengthening policies related to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), plastic credit systems, and recycling standards. The panelists shared their diverse experiences working in policy-related fields and discussed how these tools can make businesses more accountable and accelerate the adoption of circular solutions.

The message was clear: South Asia has the talent, the ideas, and the will. With innovation, inclusion, and smart policy, the region can lead the shift from throwaway habits to a sustainable circular economy.

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