What does it mean to accelerate action on women's and marginalized groups' empowerment through technological innovation in waste management? In the Pacific, the Pacific Tourism Waste Action Initiative is providing women opportunities to explore innovative and inclusive approaches to contribute to reducing the waste footprint of tourism on the environment.

Women in Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia have been trained on repurposing plastic--merging industry, technology, art, and business entrepreneurship. The initiative capitalizes on repurposing parts of PET plastic bottles into the creation of decorative items to be resold through tourism businesses, initiating a circular economy approach.
This program is providing multiple co-benefits, as it provides collection and management of the plastic waste (a hindrance to the tourism sector in Pacific Islands), and contributes to marine conservation; skills-training and confidence building; as well as development of business plans and alternative livelihoods for women, men, youth, elderly, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI community members in particularly tourism-reliant towns.
Check out the different videos on the programs in the countries to hear from women participating in the project.