Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Advances National Efforts to Curb Plastic Pollution through Circular Economy Solutions

Saint Vincent, August 14, 2025. From August 12–14, 2025, stakeholders across government, private sector, civil society, and academia came together in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for a series of national workshops aimed at tackling plastic pollution and developing circular economy solutions.

Organized by IUCN –International Union for Conservation of Nature-, in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Unit of the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and with support from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the workshops marked a key milestone in the country’s transition toward more sustainable plastic management systems.

The workshops are part of the “Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap” project, an initiative aimed at tackling plastic waste leakage in Caribbean Small Island Development States (SIDS) by improving waste management, supporting legislative reforms, and creating new economic opportunities for women, youth, and local communities through the repurposing of plastic waste.

Inception Workshop – August 12, 2025

The workshop series opened with a National Inception Workshop, formally launching the project in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. A wide spectrum of participants from public and private entities attended the event, which featured opening remarks from Rodrigo Flores, Regional Programme Manager at IUCN Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, Giuseppe Nerilli, Regional Coordinator for Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Tourism at  AICS, and Dr. R. Tamira L. V. Browne DPA - Permanent Secretary (Ag) Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture. The session introduced the project’s vision, key findings to date, and the national implementation roadmap. Participants engaged in working groups to identify local priorities, stakeholder roles, and areas for alignment with existing national policies.

“Plastic pollution is one of the most urgent environmental challenges facing our region. In Small Island Developing States like ours, where our natural beauty is central to our identity, our livelihoods, and our tourism economy, the threat posed by plastic waste is especially acute. It impacts our marine biodiversity, our coastal resilience, our food security, and ultimately, the health and well-being of our people”

- Dr. R. Tamira Browne, Permanent Secretary (Ag.) Ministry of Tourism,Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture.

Alternative Value Chains (AVC) Workshop – August 13–14, 2025

The second and third days shifted into an intensive AVC co-design sprint, where over 20 selected stakeholders collaborated to identify plastic waste value chains and co-develop two actionable circular business models.

Participants mapped existing gaps in policy, infrastructure, and market incentives, while proposing innovative solutions to repurpose plastic waste into economic value—particularly targeting opportunities for youth and women-led enterprises.

The "Closing the Caribbean Plastic Tap" initiative will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our sustainable tourism development thrust in SVG. The natural environment is integral to the destination's tourism product and the discussions around reducing and ultimately eliminating plastic pollution in our country will redound to a cleaner, greener and more climate friendly environment for Vincentians as well as our visitors. I am excited about the proposed interventions by all stakeholders who shared valuable insights over the last two days at the Alternative Value Chains for Plastic Waste (AVC) workshop and pledge the Department of Tourism's commitment to closing the plastic tap in St. Vincent and the Grenadines”

- Faylene Scrubb King, Director Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development and Culture.

As a result of the workshop, business models for garden pavers and lumber products, including benches and bins, were defined for further assessment and potential piloting in 2026. Participants also established a shared national vision with priority areas to guide future action, identified policy and regulatory opportunities to reduce market barriers, and strengthened connections between public, private, and community actors.

The workshops have set a solid foundation for continued momentum in the fight against plastic waste in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. With implementation underway, the island is poised to become a model for other Caribbean SIDS in building a circular economy grounded in inclusion, innovation, and impact.

“The cost of inaction far outweighs the cost of taking measures to safeguard the environment and human health. With our combined efforts, we can be the catalysts for change and work toward the beginning of the end of the linear plastic economy”

- Rodrigo Flores, Regional Programme Manager at IUCN Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.