Behavioral Change to Reduce Plastic Waste in Cambodia
25 November 2016
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Who are we?

Fondazione Acra
Fondazione ACRA is an Italian NGO which in Cambodia is implementing an EU-funded project titled “Reducing Plastic Bag Waste in Major Cities of Cambodia”. Building on a human-centered design methodology, ACRA has developed an overarching behavioral change campaign aimed at encouraging more sustainable models of plastic bags consumption. Primary targets are local markets with a special focus on women, as pillars of Cambodian households and major vendors and shoppers in local retail sector. With the support of professional activators, compelling visual tools and a customized set of incentives, ACRA works on the ground to trigger change and reduce plastic bags wastage at the grassroots level. Moreover, ACRA has fruitfully engaged with the local Government and the Ministry of Environment on the policy front. As a result, by end of 2016 a brand-new law will be enacted, including pivotal measures, such as minimum price charge of plastic bags in supermarkets, ban on small and thin plastic bags and fiscal incentives.

Plastic Free Cambodia provides education and workshops on the effects of our plastic over-consumption in Cambodia and the world. We have made more than 20 interventions in Phnom Penh: Passerelles Numériques Cambodge, Pour un Sourire d’Enfant (School of Business and Summer Camp), Liger School, Lot 369 Restaurant, Eleven One Kitchen Restaurant, Impact Hub workshop, Nexus and more than 80 interventions in Siem Reap: PEPY, Sala Bai, Haven, JWOC, ABCs and Rice, EXO Travel, Rambutan etc. The audience in the schools is on average 150 to 200 students and in the restaurants 10 to 50 people

What is the purpose of this gathering?
In the context of the European Week of Waste Reduction Week (EWWR), that takes place from the 19th to the 27th of November, Fondazione ACRA and Plastic Free Cambodia, as European organizations, want to engage Cambodian communities. More specifically, we will target a network of private sector stakeholders very active on CSR and environmental protection. Specifically, we refer to the Toul Tom Pong Community, an active group of restaurants and catering businesses in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. We intend to present possible behaviors to adopt in daily life and explore together viable pathways to change and reduce waste and over-consumption of single-use plastic. The purpose of that meeting would be to gather all of managers and some reps of local staff to build together actions towards a cleaner, better and safer environment in Phnom Penh city.

Tentative Outline:
1/ introduction of each participant
2/ short workshop by Plastic Free Cambodia (related to your professional activities) with videos and waste management best practices
3/ short presentation of ACRA project with videos
4/ Debate / Q&A / Buffet (drinks and finger foods)