This workshop will explore how to support the widespread adoption of circular design criteria and principles for plastic products. The design of a product can influence up to 80% of its environmental impact throughout its lifecycle. Participants and GACERE countries’ representatives will share best practices and challenges of circular design for plastic products with a Global South focus. GACERE will also distil insights from its brief to inform INC-4 negotiators on circular design.
Target audience (max. 50 participants*): policymakers, innovators and other relevant stakeholders along the plastics value chain
*Please note that workshops are not livestreamed, and they are only available for those in-person participants who have registered to take part in them.
Programme
Opening remarks
Juan Carlos Castro Vargas
Minister of Environment
Ministry of Environment, Peru
Juan Carlos Castro Vargas was nominated to his current role in February 2023. He is a biologist graduated from the National University of Trujillo, with a master's in environmental management from the University Santiago Antúnez de Mayolo. With more than 20 years’ experience, he is the former chief of the National Water Authority (ANA) and held management positions in different institutions of the public sector in Peru, such as the National Institute of Natural Resources (INRENA); the Environmental Evaluation and Oversight Agency (OEFA); the Ministry of Housing, Construction and Sanitation (MVCS); and the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI). His experience covers water resources management, watersheds, environmental assessment and public management.
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Introducing the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) on plastic pollution
Daniele Serra
Associate Expert
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Daniele has worked at UNIDO as a project manager in the circular economy and resource efficiency unit since 2021. He is the focal point of the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency (GACERE) and leads a project on the uptake of eco-design practices in China. A passionate advocate of the ecological transition, he worked for the energy utility Enel before joining UNIDO (2017-2021). His background is in sustainable energy systems and he holds an MSc from the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, the Polytechnic University of Turin in Italy, and the UPC BarcelonaTech in Spain.
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GACERE contribution to INC on plastic pollution
Christoffer Vestli
International Relations Officer
European Commission
Since 2020, Christoffer Vestli has been part of the multilateral team of the Directorate-General Environment of the European Commission, overseeing plastics negotiations and part of the circular economy action plan. He has worked with GACERE, the OnePlanet Network and other international projects related to sustainable consumption and production. He has experience in international relations and Norwegian legislation on the circular economy and waste management.
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Main insights of the policy brief on circular design of plastic products
Bahar Koyuncu
Senior Policy Officer
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Bahar Koyuncu leverages her 15 years’ experience in research and development, and sustainability policy to support the transition to a circular economy. She holds a double major in chemical engineering and chemistry and an MSc in sustainable development and management. She strongly believes in the role science and multistakeholder collaboration play to enable the transition to a circular economy.
