Plastics Forum

The Plastics Forum will be held during the 2022 Face-to-Face segment of the COPs, from 8 to 10 June 2022  at the Geneva International Conference Centre (CICG), 17 rue de Varembé, Geneva, Switzerland.

You can download the Plastics Forum programme to find out more about all activities. 

Plastic Forum programme

Objectives

The objectives of the Forum are to:

  1. Further solidify the importance of the Conventions’ role in tackling plastic pollution;
  2. Build on the existing body of knowledge on best practices, successes and challenges, realized at the local, regional and global levels;
  3. Provide a platform for knowledge sharing, awareness raising of latest trends and technologies and opportunities to stimulate innovation;
  4. Create a hub for solutions to plastic pollution by connecting up-and-coming innovators to a wide audience of policymakers and experts;
  5. Spread awareness of the work of the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Partnership to broaden its membership base.

The Forum will be an interactive event comprising  of an exhibition area blending both interactive booths for exhibitors to display their activities, a space for hosting specific interactive activities such as booth events, talks, panel debates, side events, a photo exhibition competitions and screening of videos, an online platform for virtual activities as well as number of special events such as,  a social media challenge and a plastics waste hackathon during which software developers will gather online to brainstorm and collaborate to conceptualize and develop innovative working prototypes for the environmentally sound management of plastic waste.

The target audience for the Forum is delegates and observers attending the 2022 meetings of the conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, as well as other representatives from the private and public sector, civil society and the media that are invited to attend the event. Virtual participation in many of the events of the Forum will be facilitated through an online platform.

Booths

Fifteen exhibition booths will be made available for interested partners to showcase their activities during the three days of the Fair. The booths will be open throughout the COPs. Exhibitors who wish to keep their booths until the end of the COPs will be allowed to do so.

Exhibitors will be encouraged to set up their booths with interactive demonstrations showcasing their fields of expertise.

Following past practice, an exhibit fee will be charged to participants representing the private sector and industry. Exhibitors representing NGOs and IGOs will be charged a nominal fee.

Activities

The Forum will open with a ceremony and a reception at lunch time on 8 June 2022 and will be closed with a reception in the evening of 10 June 2022.

Interactive activities will take place during the lunch period between 13h00 and 15h00 and after the afternoon plenary session between 18h00 and 20h00.

Interactive Panel discussions on topical issues involving high-level representatives from all sectors will be scheduled for a maximum duration each of 60 minutes in order to ensure that participants remain engaged during the event.

Hackathon

Date: 9-10 June 2022
Plastics Forum
Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions

Lead-up: SDG Innovation Bootcamp (7-8 June 2022)

Place: online
Live streaming and commentary

Partners: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Open Geneva, University of Geneva, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Forming part of the “Plastic is Forever” campaign, the two-day (9-10 June 2022) online hackathon event will host teams of innovators who will brainstorm and collaborate to conceptualize and develop working prototypes for the environmentally sustainable management of plastic waste.

In the lead-up to the hackathon, there will be a Sustainable Development Goals Innovation Bootcamp (7-8 June 2022), during which the BRS Secretariat and our partners will present to the participating teams information on methodologies, as well as key insights from the BRS Conventions, SDG Hack, the Global Goals, United Nations Environment Programme’s Beat Pollution campaign, and relevant success stories.

Photo Exhibition

The “Plastic is Forever” exhibition, featuring the finalist photos of the Plastic Waste Partnership photography competition. The winner will be announced in a special ceremony during the Plastics Forum.

Social media challenge

The Plastic is Forever social media challenge is a fun and easily accessible way to inform youth about the status of the global plastic waste crisis, and inspire them to engage in the efforts to manage plastic waste pollution.

The two versions of the challenge – Sea and Mountain - are now available on Facebook and Instagram. Don’t forget to tag us (@brs.meas IG , @BRSMEAS Facebook) when you play!

Illuminations

On the evenings of 10 and 11 June 2022, a video projection will illuminate the façade of the United Nations Palais des Nations. This initiative falls under the “Plastic is Forever” campaign to promote the environmentally sound management of plastic waste.

More information on the Plastic is Forever campaign is available here.

Competitions will be organized to ensure that participants engage with the event. For example, awards will be given to recognize the best booth, the event that attracts the most participants, the most creative activity, etc.

In order to raise awareness and engage external partners, selected activities will be broadcasted live using a number of available social media tools such as YouTube and Facebook.

Side events

During the three days of the Plastics Forum the side events will be organized focusing on the theme of the Forum.

United Nations rules with regard to the marketing activities by private companies in a United Nations conference centre

Private companies can exhibit only what is pertinent to the conference they have been invited for and must not at any time neither solicit, transact nor market their services; The exhibition shall be for information purposes only, for the benefit of the participants to the conference.