In a scene unchanged for generations, fishers rise before dawn to trawl the coastal waters of China’s Zhejiang province, hoping for a bountiful catch.

These days, many are just as likely to return to shore with a cargo hold full of plastic as they are with fish.

That is because since 2019, the Blue Circle environmental initiative has paid Zhejiang’s fishers – and residents in coastal communities– to collect plastic debris, such as bags, bottles and discarded fishing nets.

The plan is part of an ambitious effort, backed by cutting-edge equipment and blockchain technology, to remove and manage plastic pollution along parts of the province’s 6,600km coastline. The push is also designed to provide benefits to local communities.

Since its launch, the initiative has enlisted the help of 10,240 boats and 6,300 fishers and local residents to recycle nearly 2,500 tonnes of plastic.

“We hope that Blue Circle’s marine waste management model can expand beyond this country and to the world, galvanizing more people into action to address marine pollution,” said Chen Yuan, marine ecological environment division chief from the Department of Ecology and Environment of Zhejiang province.

For its contribution to fighting plastic pollution, Blue Circle has been named the 2023 Champion of the Earth for Entrepreneurial Vision , one of the United Nations’ highest environmental honours.

“Humanity’s addiction to plastic is threatening the health of our planet, our well-being and our prosperity,” said Inger Andersen, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). “To ensure a just transition and improve livelihoods, we must embrace innovation. Blue Circle is demonstrating what is possible when technology and sustainability come together.”

Novel solutions 
Developed by the Department of Ecology and Environment of Zhejiang province and Zhejiang Lanjing Technology, Blue Circle says it is the largest marine plastic waste recycling programme in China.

The initiative has developed a digital platform that uses blockchain technology and internet-based tracking to chart the journey of individual plastic pieces.

Live feeds from boats, ports and production lines, along with interactive maps, catalogue the collection, shipment, storage, recycling and remanufacturing of plastic. Shoppers can access that information by scanning QR codes on goods made of certified plastic from the ocean.

Blue Circle’s use of blockchain technology and the web offers an exciting glimpse into the future of environmental action.

“We have created a digital platform that can serve as a model for the world,” said Chen Yahong, general manager of the Marine Business division of Zhejiang Lanjing Technology, in an interview with UNEP.

By 2025, Blue Circle plans to make its digital system public and expand to integrate a range of businesses, including small and informal sector, governments, and public welfare organizations.

Humanity’s’ produce-use-and-discard’ approach to plastic is causing an environmental nightmare. More than 90 per cent of plastic that has ever been produced is buried, burned or has leaked into the environment, usually after just a single use. Emissions linked to this short-sighted approach could account for nearly one-fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions under the most ambitious targets of the Paris Agreement by 2040.

Benefit to fishing communities 
Alongside tea growing and silk farming, fishing is a pillar of Zhejiang’s rural economy. But it is not the industry it used to be due to the ageing demographic of coastal areas.

To help low-income communities, Blue Circle offers a range of financial incentives and benefits. It pays its “ocean cleaners” 0.2 Chinese yuan (US¢3) for every plastic bottle collected, about seven times more than the market rate.

Blue Circle members are able to access basic social security insurance and low-interest loans from banks and rural credit unions via a digital platform. So far, loans worth up to 130 million yuan (US$18 million) have been issued under the scheme.

The initiative has also established a “prosperity fund” financed by profits from the sale of plastic particles to manufacturing companies. Through the fund, plastic waste collectors earn an average of 1,200 yuan (US$165) per month. By working with the government and businesses, Blue Circle has supported over 6,000 low-income residents and fishers in coastal areas.

“Zhejiang comprehensively practices environmental protection in all sectors in collaboration with governments, enterprises and the public. This promotes economic growth and protects marine ecosystems, and people in Zhejiang look forward to a beautiful natural environment and high-quality ecological space,” said Chen Yuan.

Globally, UNEP works with governments and businesses to promote a just transition for plastics , including in developing countries. This entails ensuring sustainable production and consumption of plastics in a manner that is fair and inclusive of everyone concerned, including waste pickers and other workers in the plastics value chain. The adoption of digital solutions and the promotion of transparency can play a pivotal role in realizing these objectives. Furthermore, this approach not only promotes decent job opportunities but is also essential for ensuring inclusivity, a critical factor in achieving this endeavour, experts say.

Harmony with nature 
China still produces some 30 per cent of the world’s plastic, but the country has been taking steps to address plastic pollution and its impact on the environment.

China banned the import of plastic waste in 2018 and no longer receives much of the developed world’s plastic scrap. More recently, the government has unveiled plans to phase out all single-use and non-biodegradable plastic products by 2025.

The Ministry of Ecology and Environment has recognized Blue Circle’s work as worthy of being promoted across the country. With further backing from government departments at all levels, Blue Circle hopes to significantly expand its activities to cover 289 ports in nine coastal provinces and two municipalities by 2025.

According to Chen Yuan from the Department of Ecology and Environment, much of Blue Circle’s success comes from the mutual benefits the project is designed to bring to fishing communities: income for cleaner coastal waters.

He also points to the province’s track record in environmental action. In 2018, Zhejiang’s Green Rural Revival Programme was named a Champion of the Earth. Zhejiang’s green drive gained significant momentum when President Xi Jinping, then party chief of the province, visited the forested, hillside town of Anji in 2003. There, Xi extolled the virtues of protecting nature and famously said, “clear waters and lush mountains are as invaluable as silver and gold.”

Chen Yuan said: “People have indeed seen with their own eyes that clear waters and green mountains are worth the price of gold.”

About the UNEP Champions of the Earth

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP)Champions of the Earth honours individuals and organizations whose actions have a transformative impact on the environment. The annual Champions of the Earth award is the UN’s highest environmental honour. #EarthChamps 

About the #BeatPollution campaign

To fight the pervasive impact of pollution on society, UNEP launched #BeatPollution , a strategy for rapid, large-scale and coordinated action against air, land and water pollution. The strategy highlights the impact of pollution on climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and human health. Through science-based messaging, the campaign showcases how transitioning to a pollution-free planet is vital for future generations.