International consultants here working on the Vanuatu Governments’ Plastic Strategy have asked VCCI to share with you an opportunity to feed into the shaping of this important piece of work.
Attached here is a snapshot of the Draft Plastics Strategy which includes the five draft Strategic Objectives and 18 Strategic Actions which will act as a road map for the Vanuatu Government to direct effort (including donor funding) to both reduce the loss of plastic into the marine environment and stimulate greener business development opportunities to transition to circular economy friendly products, processes and businesses.
The strategy will seek to identify support needed for businesses that make or import replacement products/processes for banned items and also to reduce plastic consumption in general.
It will include activities to support the development of deposit and return systems (already under way with JICA funding) through business developing the process and logistics to collect plastic and other bottles from the community throughout Vanuatu and potentially develop value-added options to further process these materials within Vanuatu for export or other use.
Extended producer responsibility schemes that duplicate Australia’s National Packaging Covenant may in turn collect sufficient plastic film (noodle, chip, lolly packaging, plastic pallet wrap, flip flops etc) to be used in plastic lumber production and similar to replace imported plastic product and incentivize the recovery of ocean bound plastics which improves touristic impressions of Vanuatu while also protecting the environment.
The cruise line industry in turn needs plastic replacements at ports of call and are interested in business that can develop water in a metal can. This is something the two beverage companies in Vanuatu could look at and may benefit in support.
There are hotels and resorts that are also interested in moving toward plastic free solutions for their shampoos and soaps and greener local replacement products (Tourism is working on this as well) while there is potential for higher level eco-tourism through accreditation to National Geographic location standards.
These are just a few quick examples the consultants have provided. This opportunity is for you as business owners to suggest activities that can support the private sector in transition, in business modification or new business development that can then be locked down into this strategy.
All comments have been requested to be submitted by 31 January 2020 to Amber Carvan at ambercarvan@gmail.com
