With the Regional Plan on Marine Litter Management in the Mediterranean (the Plan), the UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) was the first Regional Seas Programme and Convention to develop legally binding measures to prevent and reduce the adverse effects of marine litter on marine and coastal environments. Adopted in 2013, the entry into force of the Plan coincided with the update of national...

Africa, the second largest continent in the world, is experiencing a higher urban population growth (estimated at 3.5% per year) than any other continent, with a steep rise in the middle class and the associated increase of municipal solid waste from 0.78kg per capita per day to 0.99kg by 2025. When coupled with various waste management challenges, there is an expected increase in mismanaged waste...

The European Union has set in motion various initiatives to combat plastic waste and pollution.

Since 2018, a regional law in Navarra requires businesses in the hotel, retail and catering (HORECA) sector to serve 80% of beer, 70% of soft drinks and 40% of water in reusable containers, by 2028. By the same deadline, 15% of beverage containers sold in shops must be reusable. Source: Rethink Plastic Alliance (2022). Single Use Plastics Directive Implementation Assessment Report.