EPPIC project: Prevent 3,500 tons of plastic waste released into environment

On September 11, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam and the Norwegian Embassy, in collaboration with the Viet Nam Administration of Seas and Islands (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), organized a workshop to close the Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge (EPPIC) project.

Addressing transboundary challenges

In his opening remarks, Mr. Nguyen Duc Toan, Director General of the Viet Nam Administration of Seas and Islands, emphasized: “Marine plastic pollution is one of the most serious transboundary challenges, posing threats to coastal and ocean ecosystems and the environment. Rooted in practical needs, the EPPIC project was initiated by UNDP Viet Nam to promote innovation in reducing marine plastic pollution in the ASEAN region.”

Over five years of implementation, EPPIC attracted 350 idea submissions from ASEAN countries, with many breakthrough solutions applied in practice. Nearly 3,500 tons of plastic were prevented from being directly released into the environment.

Notable innovations include: GreenJoy grass straws (Vietnam), CIRAC solvent-free recycling technology (Thailand), Siklus refill stations for consumer products (Indonesia), and the TrashCash digital recycling platform (Philippines). These models demonstrate the role of innovation in driving the circular economy while creating new livelihood opportunities for communities.

Mr. Toan noted that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment looks forward to continued support from UNDP, Norway, and international partners in promoting a sustainable ocean economy. Particularly as many coastal provinces and cities are undergoing administrative restructuring and expanding development space, international technical and financial assistance will play an important role in improving coastal community livelihoods while reducing environmental pressures.

In addition to the US$18,000 incubation grant, the project mobilized over US$700,000 from investors and innovation support funds. In Viet Nam, several pilot activities have been implemented, ranging from the Trash Hunt mobile application to help communities detect and collect waste, to trials of the deposit-return system (DRS) and the co-processing of 100 tons of non-recyclable plastic waste.

Ms. Francesca Nardini, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Viet Nam, shared: “In 2020, EPPIC was launched at a time when the global fight against plastic pollution was becoming increasingly urgent. In Viet Nam, following the Government’s approval of the National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Waste in December 2019, EPPIC contributed to advancing local initiatives while connecting them to global trends.”

Beyond fostering innovation, the EPPIC project has also played a key role in supporting policy development and promoting an inclusive approach to plastic waste management. It has advanced inclusive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), ensuring that benefits also reach the informal labor sector in collection and recycling chains.

Policies and long-term commitments

Appreciating the multidimensional nature of the project, Mr. Erlend Skutlaberg, First Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy, remarked: "EPPIC has combined innovation, policy development, and regional cooperation to strengthen our capacity to address one of today’s most pressing challenges. The figures clearly demonstrate that regional cooperation can drive innovation and create real impact, from the local to the regional and international levels."

Another focus of innovation and technology lies in creating transparent markets for secondary materials, enabling the trading of secondary plastics and textiles through exchange platforms, thereby opening new opportunities for the circular economy.

According to Mr. Hoang Thanh Vinh, Programme Manager at UNDP Viet Nam, the results of EPPIC will continue to contribute and align closely with the current policy framework, including the Law on Environmental Protection, EPR, Decision No. 1407/QĐ-TTg on the global treaty to end plastic pollution, and the National Action Plan on Circular Economy under Decision No. 222/QĐ-TTg.

The pilots and experiments of EPPIC are also paving the way for scalable solutions such as secondary material markets, co-processing of hard-to-recycle plastics, establishing material recovery facilities (MRFs), and waste segregation at source. EPPIC envisions a future with reduced plastic pollution, where effective waste management techniques together with promising circular economy initiatives—such as deposit return systems (DRS) will thrive.