June 23/24, 2025 – www.lmglobal.org

The overall summary of the #UNOC3: NEW WAYS TO EFFECTIVELY SCALE PLASTIC RECYCLING – Societal Change for the Collection of Plastic Can Create Significant Impacts, titled official virtual side event #V66 in the margins of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France (June 9 to 13), was delivered successfully on Fri. JUNE 13, 2025 at 7:00 a.m. EST | 1:00 p.m. CET.

Immediate Release – Dated: May 19, 2025 | Booklet of the #UNOC3 / #V66 Side Event

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

 
[LMGlobal.Org] Summary of the #UNOC3: NEW WAYS TO EFFECTIVELY SCALE PLASTIC RECYCLING – Societal Change for the Collection of Plastic Can Create Significant Impacts, titled official virtual side event #V66 in the margins of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France (June 9 to 13, 2025), which was successfully delivered by the Light Millennium Global (New York, USA) on June 13, 2025. The virtual side event was organized in partnership with the Permanent Mission of the Bahamas to the United Nations, Permanent Mission of Kiribati to the United Nations, and the Ocean Recovery Alliance (CA, USA / Hong Kong).

The official #UNOC3 / #V66 virtual session has focused on addressing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable solutions in support of the Thematic Interactive Dialogues of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference #UNOC3, “Preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution of all kinds, particularly from land-based activities”, featuring discussions on innovative recycling programs, global challenges, and strategies for reducing plastic waste. Speakers presented various initiatives, including the Harvest Plastic program, Plastic Credit, the Blue Circle marine plastic waste management model, and proposals for a unified monetization system for plastic waste recovery. The session concluded with commitments from participants to support ocean conservation efforts and promote sustainable practices in plastic management.

The virtual side event presented various speakers, including experts and ambassadors, who presented strategies and initiatives to address plastic waste, emphasizing the need for improved recycling systems, innovative solutions like plastic credits, and global cooperation. The keynote speakers and panelists of the session were based in the U.S., Hong Kong, the Bahamas, Kiribati, South Africa, India, and China, which concluded with closing remarks, a commitment to host annual events, and an invitation for continued engagement on plastic pollution and ocean conservation at the UN Ocean Conference. 

BRIEF SUMMARIES OF THE SPEECHES / PRESENTATIONS

Welcoming & Opening Remarks were made by Bircan Ünver, M.A., Founder-President & Head NGO of the LMGlobal.Org to the United Nations Department of Global Communications, USA & Türkiye. She also moderated the session and introduced the concept of the session.

Ocean Recovery Alliance – Summary

The first keynote address of the session was delivered by Mr. Douglas Woodring, Founder, Managing Director, Ocean Recovery Alliance, (Certified UN Observer for the Ocean), USA & Hong Kong. 
Mr. Woodring has emphasized the complexity of plastic pollution and the need for better recycling systems. Plastic pollution is a significant global issue, with complexities surpassing those of climate change due to the diverse types of plastics and challenges in waste management. Urban systems often exacerbate the problem, as collected waste is contaminated with food and other materials, making recycling inefficient. The Harvest Plastic program, developed by Ocean Recovery Alliance, targets rural communities lacking waste management resources, avoiding the pitfalls of urban systems.
Initially launched in Cambodia during the pandemic, Harvest Plastic provided food baskets as rewards to encourage plastic collection in remote villages. The program originated from the need to address waste mismanagement in communities along Tonle Sap Lake, where burning or dumping waste was common. To foster environmental pride, the Water Rising and Falling Festivals were established, bi-annual events synchronized with the lake’s water level changes. These festivals focused on community engagement, teaching waste management, and highlighting the impacts of plastic pollution. Over five years, the initiative engaged 12,500 participants, removing 120 tons of plastic.
Building on this foundation, the Harvest Plastic program introduced branded “rice bags” for families to collect clean, uncontaminated plastic. This approach prevents environmental leakage, avoids landfills, and supports recycling markets by providing clean materials. Incentives like rice and food rewards maintain community participation and enthusiasm.
The program’s success in Cambodia inspired its replication in Lombok, Indonesia. With six engaged villages, each with approximately 2,000 households, the program collects 6,000 kg (6 tons) of uncontaminated plastic (of all types) per month, with recovery rates of over 85% for all plastic that is collected (higher than any city in the world).  The unique rewards system has created societal change in each community, shifting villagers’ mindsets, with immediate avoidance of waste burning and illegal dumping for those who participate.  Local plastic aggregators and recyclers benefit from high-quality material, fostering broader recycling efforts within Lombok, with the goal of expansion into new communities.  The Harvest Plastic program demonstrates a scalable model for reducing plastic pollution while empowering communities and promoting sustainable practices for the recovery of plastic, which is not yet avoidable in the context of daily life and activities. 


PRESENTATION

THE BAHAMAS – Plastic Credit Marketplace Proposal

H.E. Mr. Stan Oduma Smith, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the United Nations delivered a keynote address, and proposed a need to the “Plastic Credit Marketplace”.

Ambassador Smith has aligned it with a similar approach to “Carbon Credit” at the Third UN Ocean Conference and highlighted the critical need for effective ways to scale plastic recycling, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive plastics elimination strategy that includes R&D investment, market incentives, and aggressive demand reduction that framing it as a complex global commons challenge rather than solely an innovation issue. 
While acknowledging efforts towards ocean plastic reduction and eco-innovations, Ambassador Smith noted the current inadequacy of global commitment and the hindered transfer of knowledge due to tightly held innovations. A core proposal to address this involves establishing a plastics credit marketplace, envisioned as a sub-framework under a mandatory carbon credit system. This market would transform each kilogram of verified, recovered plastic into a financial asset, enabling price discovery, aggregating fragmented resources, and attracting larger capital pools for infrastructure. 
Five key interventions were recommended by Ambassador Smith: enshrining credits into law, de-risking financing for innovators, deploying a digital registry, securing anchor buyers for guaranteed demand, and empowering local “micro-champions” like waste pickers. 
Such a transparent market would set recovery prices, spur private investment, and foster a borderless circular economy. 
Ambassador Stan Smith also emphasized the tangibility of plastic credits, simplifying audits compared to carbon credits, and envisioned offshore recycling vessels as mobile processing plants. 
Ultimately, this systemic innovation must be approached with humility, recognizing the century-old challenge of industrial policy rooted in oil consumption, and calling for profound cultural education, robust investment, and shared innovation to achieve planetary sustainability.

KIRIBATI – “triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution

The summary of the keynote address* of H.E. Mr. Teburoro Tito, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Kiribati to the United Nations and Ambassador of Kiribati to the U.S.

The Global community faces an urgent and complex challenge in scaling plastic recycling and mitigating plastic pollution, particularly in vulnerable regions like Kiribati. The current approach, heavily reliant on innovation, is proving insufficient; a broader shift is needed. One key proposal involves establishing a plastics credit marketplace, akin to a carbon credit system, to incentivize the recovery and monetization of plastic waste. This market would legally recognize reclaimed plastic as a monetizable asset, attract private investment through guaranteed demand from major industries like tourism and shipping, and empower local communities, including fishers and waste pickers, through direct financial incentives. Technologies like blockchain could ensure transparency and efficiency in tracking these credits, turning waste into a valuable commodity.
Kiribati, a small island developing state heavily dependent on its ocean resources, exemplifies the dire consequences of plastic pollution. With 13% of its daily waste being plastic and limited disposal options, the nation is actively pursuing strategies to combat this threat. Kiribati strongly advocates for a legally binding international treaty to regulate plastic production and use, a call echoed by other Pacific Island nations. However, this global effort faces significant resistance from countries with vested interests in petroleum-based plastic production, hindering progress towards a unified solution. 

Ambassador Tito emphasized the need for humanity to find a balance between plastic production, use, and disposal. The goal is to restore harmony between people, development, and nature, recognizing that their disharmony is already evident in the “triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution,” driven by “insatiable human greed for wealth, power, and glory.”

FULL SPEECH

[*] Due to a connection issue, Bircan Ünver of the Light Millennium Global presented Ambassador Tito’s keynote address on behalf of.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PANEL DISCUSSION: Experts shared insights on community-driven recycling solutions, policy recommendations, and scalable impact models.

Mr. Oliver Nudds, Founder and CEO of Ocean Plastic Technologies, South Africa 
Summary of Oliver Nudds’ contribution at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference Side Event 
At a 2025 UN Ocean Conference, Oliver Nudds, Founder and CEO of Ocean Plastic Technologies (OPT), presented a practical, community-first solution to plastic pollution. 
For the past eight years, OPT has been delivering turnkey micro-recycling equipment to process plastic waste into high-value raw materials – right where it’s collected. Housed in 20 or 40-foot containers, these mobile “pods” are designed for use in underserved and rural areas, making recycling possible where infrastructure is absent.
Each pod can recover up to 60,000 kg of plastic annually, create two to six direct jobs, and engage 60 to 120 local collectors. The key to the business model is the monetisation of plastic waste at the community level. By enabling local recyclers to process plastic to a higher value, OPT increases incomes for small-scale collectors and operators. The result is more jobs, more wealth staying in communities, and real progress toward a circular economy.
Nudds emphasized OPT’s respect for local microeconomics, noting that their model returns three times more money to communities compared to traditional recycling chains. Their systems run on clean water with built-in filtration, ensuring environmental and human health remain top priorities.
OPT’s pods are supported by blockchain-based track-and-trace technology that provides full transparency, from material intake to processing and resale. This not only supports Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance but also builds trust with corporate partners and buyers by providing verifiable provenance of the recycled plastic.
Originally designed to clean up harbours and waterways in South Africa, the pods are mobile and scalable. They can be deployed upstream into communities to intercept plastic before it enters rivers or oceans, converting a waste stream into a revenue stream. By densifying waste on-site, OPT turns large volumes of plastic into compact, clean raw materials ready for reuse.
As a profit-for-purpose enterprise, OPT earns through small commissions, ensuring communities reap the benefits. Nudds’ message was clear: real impact starts locally, by turning plastic waste into opportunity.
PRESENTATION

Dr. Ishrat Meera Mirzana, Head, IGEN Talk4SDG Project, The Institution of Green Engineers (IGEN), India.
Dr. Ishrat described the Core Issues such as, “Low Public Awareness”, “Poor Waste Management Systems”, “Linear Economic Models”, “Limited Community Participation”, “Informal Waste Sector Marginalization”, Policy and Regulation Gaps”, “Market and Investment Barriers Education” and “Skills Gap”, then provided strategies for reducing plastic pollution, highlighting the environmental impact and public awareness issues associated with it. Dr. Mirzana categorized her recommendations mainly in four categories: 1. Reduce Single-Use Plastic, 2. Choose Smartly for minimal packaging, 3. Join Clean-Ups – Participate in community efforts. Support Green Businesses – Patronize sustainable companies. Then she recommended individual actions, business innovations, and government policies to address the problem. Dr. Mirzana concluded her presentation with a list of her commitments towards #ReduceMarinePollution by adopting 6Rs (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle, and Rot), Practice Segregation at Source, Refuse Single-Use Plastics, Be an Eco-Ambassador including Track and Reduce Your Plastic Footprint, Use and Promote Refill and Bulk Options, Engage in Circular Economy Activities, and Educate and Inspire Others.

making a list of commitments

PRESENTATION

Mr. Andrew Almack (Canadian), Founder and CEO of Plastics For Change, Bangalore, India
In his presentation, Mr. Almack discussed the gap in plastic collection infrastructure in emerging economies and the need for more recycling facilities.
Summary of the presentation: Every 30 seconds, 365 days a year, a dump truck’s worth of plastic enters our oceans. This crisis is driven by weak collection systems in emerging economies, where recycling infrastructure hasn’t kept pace with rising plastic consumption. Municipal budgets are overstretched, recycling startups lack capital, and virgin plastic continues to dominate not because it’s better, but because it’s cheaper, more convenient, and widely available.
At Plastics For Change, we’re addressing this from both ends. We’ve built inclusive collection systems that provide dignified livelihoods for waste collectors, while investing in localized recycling infrastructure that brings value back into communities. Our tech and small-scale infrastructure connects waste collectors with global brands to replace the use of fossil fuel-based plastic.
Creating demand for recycled plastics is key to reducing the use of virgin plastics. Now more than ever, consumers want to purchase sustainable products from supply chains they can trust. We empower brands to shift from virgin to cycled plastic by offering traceable, third-party verified supply chains that align with consumer expectations.
This initiative is all about creating better livelihoods for the ultra-poor and preventing plastic from entering the ocean.
PRESENTATION

CHINA – Blue Cycle Marine Plastic Control

Dr. Cai Yingping, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ph.D., the Institute of Sustainable Development at Huzhou  University, Associate Professor, China.

At the Third UN Ocean Conference’s official virtual side event, Professor Cai Yingping introduced Huzhou Normal University’s “Blue Cycle” marine plastic pollution management model, developed by Zhejiang Lanjing Technology Co., Ltd. This Chinese initiative offers a comprehensive solution to the escalating global crisis of marine plastic pollution, which sees millions of tons of waste entering aquatic ecosystems annually, posing severe threats to both marine life and human health.

Dr. Yingping presented the Blue Cycle marine plastic pollution control model implemented in Zhejiang Province, China, which uses satellite remote sensing, drones, and other monitoring methods to manage coastal plastic waste. The program, led by the government and enterprises with public participation, focuses on closing the loop for material utilization and creating a certification system to enhance competitiveness. The Blue Cycle model has been recognized by the United Nations with the Earth Guardian Award in 2023, and includes initiatives like the Ocean Est Action Plan from the Agricultural Bank of China to promote green finance and ecological environmental governance.

The “Blue Cycle” model is built on a framework of government guidance, corporate leadership, industry collaboration, and public engagement. It employs multidimensional control, utilizing satellite, drone, and manual monitoring alongside a “three-dimensional collection network” of fishermen, coastal residents, and ships, leading to the collection of thousands of tons of marine waste. A crucial element is its circular economy approach, where 70% of collected waste is recycled into high-value raw materials. This not only tackles pollution but also creates economic incentives, with recycled marine plastic particles commanding significantly higher prices than virgin plastics, boosting collector incomes.

Furthermore, the model incorporates policy and financial innovation, including blockchain traceability and carbon footprint certification, attracting international partnerships and substantial financial support from institutions like the Agricultural Bank of China. Its success has garnered global recognition, including the 2023 UN Earth Guardian Award, and it has been replicated internationally. The “Blue Cycle” model demonstrates how ecological governance can effectively drive both economic growth and social equity, offering a replicable and scalable blueprint for sustainable development worldwide by transforming marine waste into valuable resources and fostering cross-sector collaboration.

PRESENTATION

CLOSING REMARKS #OceanCommitment 

Moderator Bircan concluded the session with The Light Millennium Global (LMGlobal.Org), Ocean Recovery Alliance (ORA), and the Permanent Mission of Kiribati to the United Nations’s joint voluntary commitment toward #OceanAwareness, #OceanConsciousness, #StopPlasticPollution, #PlasticsForCircularEconomy, #PlasticIsAnAssetNotWaste, #RespectToOcean, and #OceanForLife. This virtual side-event particularly focused on the #PlasticsForCircularEconomy concept and changing the perception of plastics from “waste” to “asset“. She announced a joint five-year Ocean Commitment through this virtual side-event as of June 13, 2025.

As the lead organization, LMGlobal.org commits to providing further support to bring this issue to the general public to continue developing programs in support of the #UNOC3, along with #OceanActionDecade. 

Ocean Recovery Alliance (ORA) brings its expertise in utilizing new technologies, innovations, creativity, and collaborations to address critical ocean health issues, directly aligning with our shared goal of combating plastic pollution. The ORA also commits to working with our member state partners to replicate its program in their communities.

The session closed with a group photo. Bircan thanked all participants, including speakers, organizers, and attendees. Bircan reiterated their 5-year commitment to be organized as an annual event around World Ocean Day, to be focused on the #ScalePlasticRecycling, #ReduceMarinePollution, and the #CircularEconomy.

Additional Notes

The official virtual side event, before it was officially opened it received 122 registrants, which then increased to 142. However, the different time zones from 6 to 12 hrs’ differences caused some confusion to numerous registrants who either tried to join it several hours earlier or some others, after the session was closed.

Although it was a virtual session, which was conducted at the #UNOC3 Blue Zone’s Delegates Lodge in Nice, France, on June 13, 2025.
The Light Millennium joined the conference with two delegates: Bircan Ünver, Head Delegate, and Dr. Marsaline Beno, Delegate. 
Further, Dr. Marsaline Beno has provided logistical and technical support to the session along with Vrushali Gaikwad, Board Member of the Light Millennium, who provided technical support remotely. 

The announcements of the #V66 Virtual Side Event were featured on LMGlobal.Org’s website and through Newsletter #24, 25 & 26 <https://www.lmglobal.org/2024/11/21/welcome-to-the-light-millenniums-latest-news/>.
Further, it appeared on the UN DGC’s Bi-Weekly Announcements dated June 2, 2025: https://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=e44de94794d9d2534e5d7f115&id=dd59f93fb8.
It was also circulated through the Turkish Forum along with multiple social media platforms of the Light Millennium Global Organizations.

Furthermore, GoodNewsBroadcast interviewed Bircan Unver on the Ocean Conference and the #V66 side event: Bircan Ünver, www.lmglobal.org, shares environmental Good News.

Next Steps

1. Douglas Woodring to expand the Harvest Plastic program to increase volumes of collected material and prove the system works at scale. 
2. Andrew Almack to continue scaling Plastics for Change’s operations, aiming to recycle 40,000 tons of material this year. 
3. Oliver Nudds is to further develop and deploy containerized micro recycling solutions for remote and rural communities. 
4. Dr. Mirzana to implement plastic footprint tracking and reduction initiatives at the individual level. 
5. Dr. Yingping to continue research and promotion of the Blue Cycle marine plastic pollution control model in Zhejiang province. 
6. Ambassador Smith to share his plastic credit marketplace concept with other participants for potential collaboration. 
7. The Light Millennium Global to organize at least one event per year around World Ocean Day for the next 5 years as part of their #OceanCommitment. 
8. The Light Millennium Global to post all presentations and a summary of the session on their website and share with the UN Ocean Conference secretariat. 
9. [As a next step] All participants are to follow up on accessing the recorded session and presentation materials through the provided Vimeo link www.vimeo.com/LMTV.

– Updated on June 28, 2025.
• The below links are included on July 13, 2025.

Official Report of the #V66 Virtual Side Event to the Secretariat of the Third UN Ocean Conference / #UNDESA (PDF)

Photo Album (73): The #UNOC3, Port Lympia & Scenes From Nice, France (June 7 ~ 15, 2025)

ABSTRACT
Today’s mismanaged plastic waste is over 18 million tons/year, much of which impacts over two billion people a day with poor water quality, health issues, ecosystem, tourism, ocean impacts, fishing, and agriculture, among others.  At the same time, the wide range of communities and countries that are most impacted by plastic pollution, which they either create due to a lack of infrastructure and resources or which their neighbors create, do not have many choices for improved collection and recycling.  Their waste adds a higher per-capita impact to the environment than does plastic in big cities, which often gets collected, but at the same time, societal improvements and program changes that need not cost a lot and bring trust to communities mean that positive impacts are higher per-capita than those in larger communities.  Recycling is not broken, but it has not been correctly implemented.   Learn from our expert panel on how communities around the world can be part of reducing plastic pollution at scale, with the ocean and our waters as one of the main end beneficiaries. 

Closing Session of the Third UN Ocean Conference at the Blue Zone in Nice, France on June 13, 2025.

KEYNOTE SPEECH/PRESENTATIONS:



Keynote Address: H.E. Mr. TEBURORO TITO, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Kiribati to the United Nations and Ambassador of Kiribati to the U.S. & Head Delegate of Kiribati to the #UNOC3.


Keynote Address  – Mr. DOUGLAS WOODRING, Founder, Managing Director, Ocean Recovery Alliance, (Certified UN Observer for the Ocean), USA & Hong Kong


OLIVER NUDDS, Founder and CEO of Ocean Plastic Technologies, South Africa

Dr.  ISHRAT MEERA MIRZANA, Head, IGEN Talk4SDG Project, The Institution of Green Engineers (IGEN), India


ANDREW ALMACK (Canadian), Founder and CEO of Plastics For Change, Bangalore, India


Dr. CAI YINGPING, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ph.D., the Institute of Sustainable Development at Huzhou  University, Associate Professor, China.

#UNPlasticTreaty: https://www.unep.org/inc-plastic-pollution

Booklet of the #V66 Virtual Session at the #UNOC3 (PDF)

Photos: Bircan Ünver & Dr. Marsalina Beno for the LMGlobal.Org.

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