With 8 million tonnes of plastic waste entering oceans each year, causing an estimated USD$13Bn2 worth of ecosystem damage, action is needed now.

For the economies of the Pacific, plastic pollution directly threatens crucial industries like tourism.

While many look to regulation, consumer education, or community action for the answers, one forward-thinking group – Plasticity – is finding practical business solutions that get plastics out of the environment and back into circulation. Plasticity is coming to Suva, on 13 March 2019 – and everyone is invited.

Plasticity – the global forum on plastic sustainability – is a one-day intensive seminar that brings together expert local and international participants to identify solutions that are directly relevant to the region.

“Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue. Its damage has social and economic impacts capable of crippling the vital Pacific tourism and fishing industries. But we can prevent this, with smart collaborative business and government partnerships. Plasticity Pacific is the forum for this solutions-focused discussion” said Plasticity Director, Trish Hyde.

While it has the capacity to help eliminate the world’s plastic waste, founder (and recognised UN Climate Hero) Doug Woodring emphasises that Plasticity Pacific is not a clean-up campaign: “Plasticity speaks directly to the business world, introducing practical sustainability concepts and showcasing new market opportunities for transforming plastic waste into valuable second-life resources.”

Launched in Rio de Janeiro at the 2012 Rio +20 Earth Summit, Plasticity has been subsequently hosted in Hong Kong, New York, Lisbon, Shanghai, London, Dallas, Los Angeles, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.

Plasticity Pacific will be the 11th Global Plasticity Forum.

“The key to our success is collaboration. Plasticity brings together stakeholders from all aspects of the value chain, from brands to innovators. Delegates come away with a profound understanding of the scale of the opportunity that this problem presents. That’s when people get really excited”