CANBERRA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Australia's national science agency will convene entrepreneurs from across the Indo-Pacific region to demonstrate their innovative solutions to ending plastic waste.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) announced on Tuesday that over 20 international teams will converge across Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok in October and November to demonstrate how their solutions are transforming the production, use and recycling of plastics.
All of the teams were taking part in the CSIRO's Indo-Pacific Plastics Innovation Network Accelerator+ Program, which offers participants funding support and forms part of the agency's mission to end plastic waste.
Kirsten Rose, deputy chief executive of the CSIRO, said that international partnerships are critical to address global challenges like plastic waste.
"Plastic pollution is a global crisis that knows no borders and we can not tackle it alone. Collaborating with our neighbors is crucial for advancing technology and business innovation, enabling us to weather economic uncertainty," she said on Tuesday.
"By working together across borders, we can create a more resilient, healthier and prosperous region," she said.
According to the CSIRO, over 400 million tons of plastic waste is produced globally every year and the figure is estimated to double by 2040.
World-first research published by the CSIRO in April estimated that up to 11 million tons of plastic pollution is sitting on the ocean floor.
Indonesian start-up Plustik will in Jakarta showcase their approach to recycling that converts low-value plastic waste extracted from landfills into commercial products including pavement blocks and floor decking.
The Jakarta event will be held on Tuesday, followed by Ho Chi Minh City on Nov. 1 and Bangkok on Nov. 7.
The CSIRO has set a goal of reducing the amount of plastic waste entering the Australian environment by 80 percent by 2030. ■
