The Green Expo and National Dialogue will provide a platform to bring together key stakeholders to deliberate solutions to plastic pollution in Kenya.
While plastic packaging has become an essential material for many industries and indeed for the economy, fulfilling many essential roles from protection to storage and transport functions; we’re left with a great deal of negative environmental impacts. Of the total plastics produced in Kenya, approximately 36% are used in packaging, with about 85% (of the 36%) ending up as unregulated waste or in dumpsites.
Another less-known fact is “According to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, in 2015, around 63% of clothing produced worldwide was made from synthetic fibres, while only 37% was made from natural fibres. (This has only increased since fast fashion has exponentially grown). With second-hand clothing coming into Kenya of which an estimated 50% is ending in the landfill, we can safely say that most of the clothing ending up at landfill is contributing to the plastics pollution.
For this reason, sustainability in design is imperative, incorporating the protection of products and functionality, while keeping its ecological footprint to a minimum.
Having a national dialogue on the facts, the legislation, policies as well as action, good practices and the ‘what needs to be done next’ should highlight the opportunities in transitioning to more sustainable plastic use that supports higher material recycling and reuse rates. The session will utilize panel discussions on aligning action and policy development. It will challenge current models, reference research and existing innovations and showcase good practices of the circular economy models for plastics in multiple value chains.
