Incentivising Innovation
Supporting innovation is essential for building better systems to manage plastic waste and reduce our reliance on single-use materials.
Governments and development partners can play a key role by creating conditions that encourage experimentation, testing and collaboration across sectors.
Here are some practical ways to incentivise innovation:
R&D funding
Offer grants, low-interest loans, or matched funding to support the development of new technologies, tools, or systems that make recycling easier, cheaper, or more accessible. This might include advances in low-tech machinery, material processing, digital tracking systems, or product redesigns.
University and research partnerships
Encourage collaboration between recycling groups and universities, research centres, or vocational institutes. Support frameworks that allow researchers to test ideas in real-world settings and develop practical, community-relevant solutions. Funding joint research or supporting student internships within recycling enterprises are two effective ways to bridge this gap.
Open innovation challenges
Host public competitions or ‘hackathons’ that invite creative ideas to tackle specific recycling or waste challenges. These can help surface new thinking and engage non-traditional actors like tech developers, students, or designers.
Innovation hubs and incubators
Establish spaces where small recycling enterprises and start-ups can access shared tools, training, mentorship and networking. These hubs can help de-risk early-stage ideas and support their growth into viable businesses.
Collaboration workshops
Facilitate regular forums or workshops where recyclers, manufacturers, designers and policymakers come together to solve shared problems. This helps ensure new innovations are relevant, feasible and ready to scale.
Procurement as a lever for change
Use public procurement to support innovation by favouring recycled, locally made, or low-impact products in government contracts. This creates a stable market for new ideas and helps attract private sector investment.
By supporting innovation not just in technology, but also in design, systems and partnerships, governments can help create the conditions for long-term, circular solutions.
