Project Summary 

Spearheaded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), the Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge (EPPIC) is an ASEAN-wide competition calling for all innovators to share their bright ideas for tackling plastic pollution with the world. The first phase was implemented in Vietnam and Thailand in 2021, the second phase was implemented in Indonesia and the Philippines in 2022, and in 2023, EPPIC was launched in Lao PDR and Cambodia. EPPIC provides an exciting opportunity for innovators to receive seed funding and incubation training to help them maximize their chances of success. 

Background 

If current trends continue, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Still, worldwide plastic consumption is expected to quadruple during this time. Besides, plastics have become the fastest-growing source of industrial greenhouse gas emissions. Plastic pollution has numerous adverse economic, social, and environmental impacts. Marine plastic pollution costs up to $2.5 billion annually in lost marine ecosystem services. Tackling plastic pollution will require multi-stakeholder collaboration and engagement. 

The objective of this project is to reduce plastic pollution in coastal and riverine areas in ASEAN target countries, contributing to the achievement of SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 12: Responsible Production and Consumption. EPPIC is a competition that will source innovative ideas from ASEAN countries for tackling local plastic challenges, contributing to widespread system-level change across the entire region. 

The project intends to bring together citizens, local governments, and the private sector to identify pressing issues and collaborate in implementing effective solutions in six countries: Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, The Philippines, Lao PDR and Cambodia.