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VERSION:2.0
PRODID:unctad.org
BEGIN:VEVENT
UID:6a59d966ab910
DTSTART:20211207T130000Z
SEQUENCE:0
TRANSP:OPAQUE
DTEND:20211207T143000Z
LOCATION:Virtual (Zoom)\, 
SUMMARY:Informal round table:  Material substitutes to single-use plastics 
 in developing countries
CLASS:PUBLIC
DESCRIPTION:Plastics are ubiquitous in modern life due to their use in a di
 versity of products\, ranging from fast-moving consumer goods\, durable pr
 oducts\, construction materials\, vehicles\, clothing\, packaging for food
  and beverages\, and various others. The exponential usage of plastics ove
 r the last century\, however\, now presents a double-edged sword for the g
 lobal society – though it has many beneficial applications\, the negativ
 e environmental impact of plastic pollution and its accumulation in nature
 \, especially in the world’s oceans\, poses significant risks to human a
 nd environmental health\, as well as a drag for economic development. Thou
 gh attempts to address plastic pollution has increasingly gained prominenc
 e\, most efforts have so far focused on post-consumption or end-of-life so
 lutions\, especially in developing countries.  \n\nNonetheless\, there is
  a concerted push to also explore up and/or midstream solutions that facil
 itate the substitution of plastics for other\, potentially more sustainabl
 e feedstocks and end-use products which can perform similar functions. Thi
 s informal roundtable will discuss opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa and
  South Asia\, particularly natural fibres\, to assess the viability of alt
 ernative feedstocks and end-use products. \n\nThe roundtable is jointly o
 rganized by UNCTAD Circular and Oceans Economy programmes\, together with 
 the Forum on Trade\, Environment\, and the SDGs (TESS). By bringing togeth
 er stakeholders across various sectors and geographies engaged in the plas
 tics challenge\, the event will also preview findings from an upcoming rep
 ort focused on material substitutes for sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia\
 , which explored trade aspects of material transition in countries such as
  Bangladesh\, Kenya and Nigeria. \n\nTopics to be addressed include: \n\
 n\nMarket and trade-related trends for plastic substitutes with an emphasi
 s on natural fibres of export interest to developing countries \nMain tar
 iff and non-tariff measures affecting market access for select plastic sub
 stitutes \nShort\, medium\, and long-term trade policy initiatives that c
 ould be pursued to support the scale-up of plastic substitutes\, as well a
 s some additional considerations for policymakers as catalysts for trade-l
 ed action \nKnowledge gaps that might need to be addressed in future to c
 onstructively inform policymaking initiatives on plastic substitutes \n\n
 \nThis virtual event is open to the public and is part of the Sustainable 
 Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution Programme\,  supported by the U
 K-FCDO. \n\n \n\nProgramme\n\n14:00  Panel 1: Trade tools for a materia
 l transition\nModerator: Ms. Carolyn Deere Birkbeck\, Director\, Forum on 
 Trade\, Environment &amp\; the SDGs (TESS)\nPresenter: Mr. Mahesh Sugathan
 \, Senior Policy Advisor\, Forum on Trade\, Environment &amp\; the SDGs (T
 ESS)\n\nCommentators \nMs. Daniela Garcia\, Deputy Permanent Representati
 ve\, Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the UN\, WTO in Geneva \nMs. Alice T
 ipping\, Lead\, Sustainable Trade and Fisheries\, IISD\nMr. Arpit Bhutani\
 , COO\, Circular Innovation Lab &amp\; Managing Partner\, Hind Agro Sales 
 (packaging division)\, India\n\n14:45  Panel 2: Promoting competitive and
  manageable material substitutes in developing countries\nModerator: Mr. D
 avid Vivas Eugui\, Legal Officer\, UNCTAD\nPresenter: Mr. Henrique Pacini\
 , Economic Affairs Officer\, UNCTAD\n\nCommentators \nMr. Devabrata Chakr
 aborty\, Counsellor (Commercial Affairs)\, Permanent Mission of Bangladesh
  to the WTO in Geneva\nMr. Joel Richards\, Senior Technical Specialist\, O
 rganization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)\nMr. Terry McCormack\, Cons
 ultant\, Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP) Prog
 ramme\n \n\n15:30  Closing remarks\n \n\nWatch event recording\nhttps:/
 /youtu.be/ZgqKau_W5PU\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/me
 eting/informal-round-table-material-substitutes-single-use-plastics-develo
 ping-countries
DTSTAMP:20260717T072734Z
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