Government partnerships

Partnering with governments to reduce plastic pollution

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and small coastal countries are on the frontlines of plastic pollution they did not create.

Policy and regulation are crucial to driving real change.

Through robust data analysis and collaboration, we develop evidence-based national policy strategies.

We collaborate with governments and leading organisations in SIDS and small coastal countries to identify and accelerate the implementation of the most effective policies to significantly reduce plastic pollution, to protect people’s health, safeguard the environment and benefit future generations.

Evidence-based policy development

Plastic Drawdown is Common Seas’ data modelling tool. It uses a waste flow analysis, coupled with consultation sessions, to model and visualise the baseline flow of plastic waste through a country.

It allows us to move beyond bans on single use plastics to identify and visualise the impacts of the most effective policies to reduce plastic waste and marine plastic pollution.

We developed the tool in consultation with 24 governments around the world, more than half of whom are SIDS.

To find out more, you can read the methodology in the Global Environmental Change Journal.

Plastic Drawdown is a UN Ocean Decade project

Where we work

Regional EPR in SIDS and remote geographies

To safeguard SIDS’ environments, economies and health, there is no single solution. No policy alone can deliver the scale of change required. Our analyses with country partners consistently show that the most impactful approach is a suite of upstream and downstream policies working together, often including Extended Producer Responsibility.

EPR has proven to be a successful model to support countries in their efforts to manage waste. However, the application of traditional EPR in SIDS and remote geographies poses unique challenges.

New research led by Common Seas and Circulearth explores the potential of regional approaches and offers an urgent and timely opportunity to build lasting systems that strengthen economic resilience, reduce reliance on fragmented grant funding, and deliver a more sustainable response to the plastic pollution crisis.

Find out more