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In Laos, valuable recyclables like plastic often end up in landfills, while informal waste workers face unsafe conditions and low incomes. Currently, the separation, collection, disposal and recycling of materials is weak, uncontrolled and disorganised. Informal waste workers face fluctuating recyclable prices and poor stakeholder coordination, impacting income and working conditions. Most of them lack business and financial knowhow. Green businesses are confronted with financial and technical constraints, including limited access to funding for investments and insufficient expertise and training possibilities on sustainable practices. Moreover, green businesses face a lack of governmental policies and incentives to support them and are confronted with low consumer awareness of green practices. In light of these challenges, the project aims to support the country in adapting to the need for innovative solutions in waste treatment and recycling.
In order to enhance the livelihood and resilience of informal waste workers, the project aims at improving their access to the market for recyclables, and better integrating them into the waste and recycling value chain. At the same time, the project supports green businesses by providing business development support, from ideation and incubation to competition and acceleration, thereby fostering a circular economy approach. Moreover, the project strengthens policy dialogue among public and private sector stakeholders as well as the civil society. This dialogue focuses on promoting sustainable consumption and production practices, creating a more favourable environment for green business growth, and implementing eco-friendly practices such as plastic reduction. To this end, the project carries out the three interventions:
The project contributes to inclusive development and a healthier environment in Laos by enhancing the waste management system. It focuses on sustainable business models for green businesses, emphasising the sale and use of recycled and upcycled products that complements the reduction of unnecessary waste sent to landfills. Furthermore, it facilitates waste-selling opportunities, which aim to increase income for informal waste workers and local recollection companies. By showcasing the value of waste and fostering recycling markets, the project works towards mitigation of climate change and nurtures social shifts towards a circular economy.
This project is co-financed by the World Wildlife Fund. It is part of the Swisscontacts Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.