The Regional Bill

Together with the Africa Legal Network, we initiated an East African Campaign to advocate for a ban of unnecessary SUPs and published a draft Bill which has been accepted for tabling in the EA Legislative Assembly.

Our aim is to have the East African Community Bill calling for a ban on unnecessary  single-use plastics approved, implemented and enforced. With the global Plastic Plastic Treaty framework, there is strong alignment and opportunity for East Africa as a region to be a leading example.

We work alongside other NGOs, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the private, government and public sector to generate support for the bill, advocating for an end of certain single-use plastics in the region as well as the promotion of circular economy principles and solutions.

GAINING BACKING FROM 21 LEGISLATORS

In 2023, together with ALN, UNCTAD and The ICCF Group, we worked with 21 legislators from all 7 East African countries who unanimously agreed to a regional approach to tackling single-use plastics. 

Watch the video to below to hear from some of the legislators backing our bill.

Local Advocacy

At the Lamu county level, we continue to advocate for Lamu’s waste management legislation to be established, in line with Kenya’s Sustainable Waste Management Act. We support local capacity building to ensure governments have the necessary tools, technical advice and knowledge to effectively support this Act and devolved action plans.

In 2021: Flipflopi model included as case study for good practice in Kenya’s First National Marine Litter Action Plan.

In 2022: Flipflopi was included in Lamu Municipality’s First Solid Waste Management Policy as a key stakeholder. 

Public petition

We are calling for all the East African Community Member States to reach regional consensus and take a leadership stance by adopting legislation to address single-use plastic and ban the most destructive, useless plastics – those that can’t be recycled and are non-essential to human survival – such as cotton buds, cutlery, disposable cups, and plastic straws.

The EAC holds a unique opportunity to set a global example for plastics legislation with majority of states having in-place laws addressing plastics. To find out more about the state of affairs on plastics in the EAC, check out this report!

And make sure you sign and share our petition below.

JOINING THE BUSINESS COALITION FOR A GLOBAL PLASTICS TREATY

We are proud to have joined the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty convened by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and WWF to accelerate progress towards a circular economy in which plastic never becomes waste or pollution, and the value of products and materials is retained in the economy.

This ambitious coalition has built a network of +260 financial institutions, companies and organisations working for an ambitious and effective global plastics treaty.

Read more about the coalition, here. 

Joining a global coalition of innovators

We’re a proud member of the Innovation Alliance for a Global Plastics Treaty (IAGPT), convened by rePurpose Global and The Ocean Cleanup, the IAGPT is a global alliance of 60+ of the worlds most innovative organisations and companies who are actively tackling plastic waste. The role of this alliance is to advance innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship in the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations and accelerate systems change across the entire plastic pollution lifecycle, from source to sea.

impact on expeditions

Our expeditions have brought together global policymakers and stakeholders generating momentum and triggering tangible action.

In 2018: 40+ businesses, including 37 hotels in Kenya, committed to banning the use of plastic bottles and straws, replacing them with sustainable alternatives.

In 2019: Flipflopi was visited by President Kenyatta of Kenya and was taken to the United Nations Environment Assembly as a flagship symbol calling for a regional end to SUPs.

In 2021: The Queen of the Buganda Kingdom signed our petition, and following the expedition, Uganda joined UNEP Clean Seas Treaty.

PLASTICS MANAGEMENT AND RECYCLING AMID GLOBAL GOVERNANCE CHANGE

Control measures applicable to plastics are being discussed as one of the main tools for a legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment.

A detailed survey was undertaken of The SMEP Programme grantees including Flipflopi on how these control measures may help or hinder models, providing interesting and timely insights that contribute to global plastic policy dialogues.