Recognizing that plastics could account for up to 19 percent of global carbon emissions by 2040, the Plastics Innovation Programme seeks to fuel inventive solutions that tackle this mounting challenge in meaningful ways.

This call for proposals offers small grants of up to US $30,000 to organisations and social enterprises with novel ideas that span material alternatives, product redesign, new business models, and technological systems to better track and manage plastic waste. It welcomes innovations in governance structures—such as economic incentives or regulatory frameworks—as well as financial instruments like plastic credits or green bonds to rechannel investment toward sustainable practices.

The challenge of plastic waste is particularly acute in South Africa, where high consumption of single-use plastics, limited recycling infrastructure, and insufficient upstream recovery have left many communities underserved. At the same time, emerging policy instruments like Extended Producer Responsibility and initiatives like the National Plastics Pact provide fertile ground for public-private and community-driven interventions to flourish.

Selected applicants will partner closely with UNDP, piloting projects that not only reduce plastic waste but also demonstrate replicability, scalability, and lasting impact. These efforts will be documented through knowledge products and participatory evaluations, ensuring lessons are captured and spread beyond South Africa’s borders as UNDP seeks to scale promising ideas across other pilot countries.

This initiative is a catalytic opportunity—placing resources in the hands of those ready to reimagine the role of plastic in society and build a cleaner, more circular future for communities and the planet.

For more information, visit UNDP.

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