Plastics Forum

The Plastics Forum is an umbrella event under the meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions (BRS COPs) that addresses the global plastic waste crisis by showcasing success stories, building on best practices, and addressing persistent challenges, while factoring in the role of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions with regard to the implementation of plastic waste management.

About the Plastics Forum

The 3-days Plastics Forum included interactive panel debates, spotlight presentations, and booth exhibits, on the stage and exhibition area of CICG, as well as the Plastic is Forever hackathon and social media challenge, running alongside the standard BRS COPs schedule. On the nights of 10 and 11 June, participants and general public enjoyed the Plastic is Forever illuminations on the façade of the Palais des Nations!

Plastics Forum Website

Agenda

The Plastics Forum programme of events is available online.

8 June

13:15 – 14:00 | Forum Stage | Opening of Plastics Forum & Launch of Plastic is Forever Social Media Challenge | BRS Secretariat
13:15 – 14:45 | BRS COPS Side Event | Integrating gender equality and women’s leadership in chemical and waste policies and programs in Africa – Good practices and lessons learned | Women engage for a common future, CEJAD, AEEFG and Nexus3 Foundation, with BRS | Room B
13:15 – 14:45 | BRS COPS Side Event | Putting in place the backbone for successful Implementation: Legislation and other regulatory measures | ICC | Room C
14:00 -14:45 | Forum Stage | Plastic Myths – What Can We Do? | GRID-Arendal
18:15 – 19:45 | Forum Stage | Plastics used in agriculture: policy solutions | FAO
18:15 – 19:45 | BRS COPS Side Event | Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership: Foundation and Future Plastic Waste Partnership | Room 11-12
18:15 – 19:45 | BRS COPS Side Event | Understanding the circular economy for chemicals in plastics – A focus on textiles and packaging | SCRC-Spain | Room 3

9 June

13:15 – 14:45 | Forum Stage | Global Governance of Chemicals and Plastics | Norway and BRS
13:15 – 14:45 | BRS COPS Side Event | Health, Chemicals, Plastics & a Non-Toxic Circular Economy | IPEN co-organized with Switzerland, Uruguay and Geneva Environment Network | Room B
13:15 – 14:45 | BRS COPS Side Event | Plastics and circular economy-community solutions | UNDP GEF Small Grant Programme | Room C
18:15 – 19:00 | BRS COPS Side Event | Plastics & Refuse-Derived Fuel: Fuel Product or Plastic Waste Export? | IPEN & Geneva Environment Network | Room 14
18:15 – 19:00 | BRS COPS Side Event | 2050, Plastic–free Planet Outlook | China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation | Room 3
18:15 – 19:00 | Forum Stage | Trading in Plastics: routine exploitation of Basel Convention rules by waste criminals | Environmental Investigation Agency
19:00 – 19:30 | Forum Stage | Recycling as a solution to plastic pollution | Fukutomi Recycling
19:30 – 20:00 | Forum Stage | PAC@2030 Plastic Waste and the Supermarket of the future | Teknos Innovation and GRID–Arendal

10 June

13:15 – 14:45 | Forum Stage | Plastic is Forever Hackathon: Presentation of pitches and demos
13:15 – 14:45 | BRS COPS Side Event | Ending Plastic Pollution: The role of the Basel Convention in supporting the new legally binding instrument | European Investigation Agency co-organized with Rwanda | Room B
13:15 – 14:45 | BRS COPS Side Event | ‘Chemical recycling’ of plastics – What is it and what impacts for the environment? | Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives & IPEN | Room C
18:15 – 19:00 | BRS COPS Side Event | The Special Programme on institutional strengthening | UNEP | Room 11-12
18:15 – 19:00 | BRS COPS Side Event | Tobacco product waste – A threat to the environment | WHO and Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control | Room 3
18:15 – 19:00 | Forum Stage | Promoting EPR for plastic waste and the role of multistakeholder engagement
19:00 – 21:00 | Forum Stage | Closing Ceremony – Plastic is Forever Hackathon: Presentation of winning pitch & Plastic Waste Partnership photo contest: Announcement of winners
21:30-22:00 | Illuminations: First day of illuminations on the façade of the Palais des Nations | Family photo

Objectives

The objectives of the Forum are to:

Further solidify the importance of the Conventions’ role in tackling plastic pollution;
Build on the existing body of knowledge on best practices, successes and challenges, realized at the local, regional and global levels;
Provide a platform for knowledge sharing, awareness raising of latest trends and technologies and opportunities to stimulate innovation;
Create a hub for solutions to plastic pollution by connecting up-and-coming innovators to a wide audience of policymakers and experts;
Spread awareness of the work of the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership to broaden its membership base.

Geneva Environment Network @ Plastics Forum

Visit the Geneva Environment Network booth at the Plastics Forum and join the two side events co-organized with IPEN as part of the Geneva Beat Plastics Pollution Dialogues.

Health, Chemicals, Plastics & a Non-Toxic Circular Economy | BRS COPs Side Event co-convened with IPEN | 9 June 2022, 13:15-14:45 CEST
Plastics & Refuse-Derived Fuel: Fuel Product or Plastic Waste Export? | BRS COPs Side Event co-convened with IPEN | 9 June 2022, 18:15-19:45 CEST

Plastic is Forever Social Media Challenge

The Plastics Forum is launching the “Plastic is Forever” social media challenge, aimed at informing and sensitizing youth about the importance of managing plastic waste in environmentally sound ways.

Join the challenge by scanning the QR codes below, and share us your videos through the BRS Instagram account (@brs.meas).