Plastic-Free Days: Phase II

Green Ivory

Think Human Fund

Mission & History

Green Ivory is a non-governmental organization founded in 2017 and based in Côte d’Ivoire. Its mission is to combat plastic pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss through an approach that promotes green entrepreneurship, ecological innovation, and youth engagement.

The organization is particularly committed to placing opportunities related to ecological transition for young people at the heart of its work, as a catalyst for citizen action, reinforced by close collaboration with decision-makers.

It is led by a qualified and committed team, structured around a Board of Directors and an Executive Committee, under the leadership of its President Kherann YAO, recently elected Ashoka Fellow and UNICEF Youth Ambassador since 2019.

Country Information

Côte d’Ivoire faces significant challenges with plastic waste, generating over 460,000 tons annually, of which less than 10% is recycled. Coastal cities like Grand-Bassam, Assinie, and San Pedro suffer most from marine plastic pollution due to tourism and urban growth. Despite adopting policies for a circular economy and sustainable waste management, implementation is hindered by low awareness and weak infrastructure. The country’s youthful population, with 77% under the age of 35, holds potential for driving environmental leadership and change.

The Need in 2026

The Plastic-Free Days project addresses the urgent social and environmental issue of plastic pollution in Côte d’Ivoire, which impacts community health, livelihoods, and the environment. Unmanaged plastic waste clogs drainage systems, pollutes beaches, and threatens fishing and tourism. The project aims to empower communities, particularly young people and women, through green job creation, improved waste management systems, eco-friendly consumption, and boosting community pride in a cleaner environment.

The Project We Fund

The “Journées Sans Plastique – Phase II (2026–2027)” project seeks to reduce plastic pollution and promote sustainable waste management across Côte d’Ivoire’s coastal cities. It combines public awareness, community empowerment, recycling, and eco-friendly alternatives to strengthen local circular economy models. The initiative connects citizens, collectors, recyclers, and municipalities through digital tools, enhancing waste management capacities, promoting plastic-free alternatives, and optimizing legal instruments to combat plastic pollution impacting 2,000 direct beneficiaries.

The Result

The first phase of the project successfully introduced good plastic waste management practices in Grand-Bassam, created approximately ten green jobs, and facilitated the clean-up of over 15 tons of plastic waste. It raised awareness among more than 200,000 people. The ongoing project aims to build on these achievements by promoting single-use plastic alternatives and involving eco-entrepreneurs and retailers, intending to optimize recycling and legal frameworks while fostering community-driven environmental change.

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The Need in 2024

This project aims to address the social issue of plastic pollution’s impact on ecosystems, affecting both current and future generations who rely on these environments for their daily needs and sustainability. There is a pressing need for improved plastic waste management and viable alternatives in communities affected by plastic pollution in Côte d’Ivoire, which this project seeks to address effectively.

The Project We Fund

Plastic Free Days is a three-year initiative by Green Ivory targeting plastic pollution in five Côte d’Ivoire cities. In its first year, from June 2024 to May 2025 in Grand-Bassam, the program aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution and best practices among 1 million people – recruiting 20 Young Ambassadors. Train 20 young people on plastic pollution and mitigation practices to become key advocates in awareness campaigns. They will assist in major clean-up events and help develop local and national advocacy for innovative solutions. Create 10 permanent plastic waste collection jobs -train 10 professional waste collectors, who will engage in regular cleaning and awareness efforts. They will receive a monthly salary and have the chance to join Green Ivory’s Sentiers Verts program for business funding opportunities. Organize major monthly plastic waste collection events – launching a Plastic Pollution Awareness Campaign: A digital campaign will run throughout the “Plastic Free Days” project to educate and mobilize the public on plastic recycling, encouraging them to keep plastic waste for clean-up days.

Recycle 100% of collected plastic by partnering with local recycling companies- host a clean-up day every two months with community engagement and collaboration. These events will be festive and invite people and businesses to drop off plastic waste and participate in a fun, educational way. Secure a commitment from a major city to adopt alternatives to single-use plastics. Engage local decision-makers to promote alternatives to single-use plastics and encourage sustainable policies at the local level. Providing recyclable plastic waste to local businesses-supply 50% of collected waste to green jobs in the circular economy and ensure 100% of the waste is recycled to maximize resource use.

The Result

To measure the impact of the Plastic Free Days project, the team will use the following methods: Awareness Campaign Metrics: Track reach and engagement through social media, website visits, event attendance, and media coverage. Surveys will assess changes in knowledge and attitudes about plastic pollution. Job Creation: Monitor the number of permanent collection jobs created via regular reports from partners or direct updates from employees. Plastic Waste Collection Events: Measure the success of monthly clean-up events by quantifying the amount of plastic waste collected, either by weight or volume estimates. Recycling Rate: Ensure 100% recycling by partnering with local recyclers and tracking the amount of waste recycled versus collected. Regular updates from recycling partners will ensure transparency. City Commitments: Document and track formal commitments from cities to adopt alternatives to single-use plastics and monitor progress through reviews of city policies and initiatives.

2025 Annual Report

The project focused on Grand-Bassam and directly benefited 413 people including individuals sensitized during the major clean up days and supported at the household level in adopting sustainable plastic waste management practices; collection and awareness-raising agents recruited and trained; eco-ambassadors engaged and retailers who received recycling boxes. They were able to raise awareness about plastic pollution, created jobs, and significantly reduced plastic waste by recycling 80% of the 18 tons collected.

Testimonies

“Participating in Plastic-Free Day was a significant experience. We cleaned the beaches and raised awareness about the severity of plastic pollution. Seeing the waste accumulate and understanding its impact on marine life motivated me to change my habits and to influence those around me to reduce their plastic consumption.”

“Before joining the program, I struggled to find stable employment. Working with Green Ivory during Plastic-Free Day allowed me not only to support myself, but also to contribute to something greater: the protection of our environment.”

“Thanks to this project, I found a job that allows me to actively participate in the fight against plastic pollution while supporting my family. It’s a rewarding job because each piece of waste collected represents a gesture for the planet. I feel proud to contribute to the preservation of our environment while having a regular income.”