About

The menace of plastic pollution is one of the pressing challenges of our time. It kills wildlife, it chokes sewages and drainage systems, and not least it leaks into the ocean and threatens marine life. While plastic has revolutionized production and consumption, making what we see as modern life possible, its mismanagement has proven detrimental. Plastic is not the problem, plastic waste is. This is the view of the Plastic REVolution Foundation, and the background for our first project in Accra, Ghana.

The Plastic REVolution Foundation is founded on a commitment to combat plastic pollution in an economically sustainable way, by the Norwegian industrialist Kjell Inge Røkke. It is one of his many initiatives to improve ocean health. The Foundation is led by Erik Solheim, former Norwegian Minister of Environment and Head of the United Nations Environment Program. We invite potential partners from all sectors to join us in our mission to develop economically viable solutions to plastic waste.

One of the greatest global challenges of our time

Every year, we produce over 350 million tons of plastic globally.

More 11 million tons of plastic ends up in the ocean every year, expected to increase to 29 million tons per year by 2050.

Plastics can take over 400 years to biodegrade, and with our current rate of usage that means they accumulate rapidly in nature.

Our first project

Our first project is to investigate the possibilities for building a pyrolysis plant in Accra, thus supporting the development of infrastructure to tackle plastic pollution and support economic development. By assigning value to plastics, we can motivate large-scale collection through changing the way used plastics is viewed: from waste to resource.

Our ultimate objective is to develop a model for self-financing collection through the transformation of used plastics into a product of value. If this concept is proven, we can realize the plant in Accra and bring the concept to other parts of the world. This will require the support of industry, Ghanaian authorities and global actors.

We have recently implemented several pilot studies locally in collaboration with business partners and the local government, in order to explore collection models for various sources of used plastics. By working with the informal sector, we aim to mobilize large-scale collection efforts while creating livelihoods in the process.

Why Ghana?

We believe Accra, Ghana can successfully take the lead in creating a global solution to plastic waste.

The city generates a total of 1.9 million tons waste per year, half of which is not properly managed. This means that more than 100 000 tons of plastic ends up outside of formal waste management streams.

Plastic pollution is high on the political agenda, and there is a strong commitment to solve this issue among Ghanaians.

The Plastic REVolution Foundation and the Aker Group of companies aim to support Ghana in finding a durable solution to plastic waste.

Publications

Contact info

Erik Solheim
CEO, Plastic REVolution Foundation
erik.solheim@plasticrevolution.earth

Selma Skov Høye
Strategy Lead, Plastic REVolution Foundation
selma.hoye@plasticrevolution.earth