This follows the successful launch of the Voluntary Pact initiative, co-designed by Plastic Punch together with major supermarkets, CSOs and other organizations. The pact signifies the collective commitment to the 50% reduction of Single Use Plastic bags in Ghana by 2030, contributing to environmental stewardship, promoting sustainable business practices, and supporting Ghana’s national sustainability goals.

Under the Voluntary Pact initiative, implementing businesses will receive capacity-building trainings to enhance their operations in sustainable practices. The initiative will also embark on an awareness campaign dubbed “Bag The Habit” to promote corporate and business environmental responsibility. Among other things, the campaign will seek to encourage the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives to the use of SUP across key sectors.

Ghana faces significant environmental challenges due to plastic pollution. The Voluntary Pact initiative, implemented in Ghana with the full support of the government of Ghana under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), its implementing arm; the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) platform enlists the support of private sector stakeholders, including supermarkets and retail businesses, to drive meaningful change. The goal is to help businesses transition and reduce the use of SUP such as carrier bags, food packaging, straws, cups, cutlery in the retail, hospitality, food, and beverage sectors.

The Voluntary Pact initiative is beyond single use plastic waste reduction; it’s about fostering a cultural shift toward sustainable business operation and consumer behaviour. By engaging stakeholders across sectors, we aim to drive behavioral change, enforce supportive policies, and create a lasting impact on Ghana’s environment,” said Hobson Kwame Agyapong, Principal Program Officer - Intersectoral Network Department, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).

The Head of Plastic Punch; Richmond Quarcoo, also indicated that “the campaign will leverage public education to amplify messages around SUP reduction to inspire broader adoption of sustainable practices.

We are calling on all supermarkets and eateries to join us on this quest to influence consumer behaviour towards single use plastic through our packaging”.

This initiative is part of the Go Circular project, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

About Go Circular

The objective of the Go Circular global program is to support the transition to a circular economy at global level through scaling, innovation, and alliances in three partner countries: Colombia, Ghana and Vietnam.

The project works closely with businesses, policymakers, and environmental organizations to support the implementation of SUP reduction strategies through

SUP Phasedown roadmap development, Voluntary Pact for SUP phasedown in supermarkets, Promoting Circular Businesses and following the International legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. This campaign aligns with global efforts to phase down single-use plastics and highlights practical solutions and success stories in reducing plastic waste.

The campaign will also leverage public education to amplify messages around SUP reduction to inspire broader adoption of sustainable practices. Accordingly, the project supports efforts to voluntarily phase down SUP and seeks appropriate opportunities with the private sector and other relevant institutions like universities, corporate organization with ESG focus.

About GIZ

GIZ has over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment, energy and the environment, and peace and security. We work with businesses, civil society actors, and research institutions, fostering successful interaction between development policy and other policy fields and areas of activity. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is our main commissioning party. Currently, GIZ promotes sustainable development in Ghana via about 50?programmes?and projects. Our activities currently cover three priority areas: Energy and Climate, with a concentration on renewable energy and energy efficiency; Training and Sustainable Growth for Decent Jobs, and Peaceful and Inclusive Societies, which looks at good governance. For more information, please visit?www.giz.de/ghana.