Ébène, Mauritius, 09 June 2025 – The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) hosted the national IslandPlas inception workshop on April 24, 2025, in Ebène, Mauritius. The event gathered key stakeholders from Mauritius to help address the growing issue of plastic waste, its environmental impact, and to explore innovative solutions to help improve plastic waste management.

Supported by a US$10 million grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation, the IslandPlas project aims to mitigate plastic waste in seven African islands, including Mauritius, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Madagascar, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, and Zanzibar. The project seeks to empower local communities and foster innovations to help the collection and recycling of packaging waste.
Key highlights from the workshop included opening remarks by Mr. Peter Manyara from IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO). This was followed by a keynote address by Mrs. Doolaree Boodhun, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change in Mauritius, who emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts in helping tackle plastic waste.

Engaging discussions took place among stakeholders from the Ministry, academia, civil society, and the private sector, exploring Mauritius’ local plastic waste management dynamics. These discussions underscored the importance of cross-sector collaboration to support a more sustainable future. Lastly, break-out group discussions allowed participants to share their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to a circular plastic economy, with a special focus on fostering local entrepreneurship and job creation through plastic waste repurposing and innovation.

Launched in 2024, the IslandPlas project aims to enhance the livelihoods of approximately 9,600 individuals in the informal waste sector, reduce plastic waste through the collection of 14,000 tons of plastic, of which approximately 5,600 tons will be recycled. It also aims to spur economic growth by leveraging US$2 million in capital investments towards innovation and enterprise development in the waste sector.

With an ambition to reduce plastic waste into oceans, the IslandPlas project aligns with the Ministerial Declaration adopted by the Ministerial Conference on the Blue and Circular Economy in the Island States of Africa and the Indian Ocean in September 2023.

Through IslandPlas, IUCN is proud to support the Republic of Mauritius in building resilient, circular economies. This workshop marked an important milestone in aligning national priorities with regional action to address plastic waste. The active participation of government, civil societies, communities, and private sector stakeholders signals strong momentum for inclusive, innovative solutions. says Mrs Melany Poorun-Sooprayen, Project Manager, IslandPlas Project (Mauritius), IUCN ESARO.