The workshop was officially opened by Honourable Rajesh Bhagwan – Minister of Environment – Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, and Honourable Joanna Bérenger – Junior Minister of Environment – Solid Waste Management and Climate Change.
In his keynote address, Honourable Rajesh Bhagwan emphasized that plastic pollution is both an environmental and public health concern. He called for a transformation in consumer behaviour and stressed that regulations alone will not suffice—personal accountability and awareness are essential.
Honourable Joanna Bérenger highlighted that plastic pollution knows no borders and reiterated Mauritius’ active role in global negotiations through the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution. She urged for dialogue, collaboration, and decisive action to protect future generations.
Opening remarks were also delivered by Mr Peter Manyara – Regional Project Lead for IslandPlas at IUCN-ESARO, who underscored the urgency of addressing plastic pollution in SIDS and presented the roadmap as a shared vision for a circular and inclusive plastic economy.
Workshop Highlights
Participants engaged in interactive sessions to review the roadmap’s targets, cross-cutting actions, policy instruments, and implementation framework. Technical presentations provided context:
The Ministry’s Plastic Management Division shared progress on national plastic reduction efforts.
Dr Geeta Somaroo – Lead Consultant from the University of Mauritius outlined the methodology used to develop the roadmap.
The workshop concluded with a plenary session where stakeholders validated the final Roadmap—marking a significant milestone in Mauritius’ journey toward a plastic pollution-free future.
Next steps
The validated Roadmap will serve as an operational guide for implementing national actions against plastic pollution, aligning Mauritius with global priorities. It reinforces the country’s leadership under the IslandPlas Project, supported by The Coca-Cola Foundation, which works with seven African island nations to advance circular economy solutions to marine plastic pollution.
