In Beijing, China, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and EDU4PlastiC came together to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on sustainable plastics, environmental education, circularity, and the role of local action in addressing plastic pollution.
The meeting brought together perspectives from local and regional sustainability governance and from the EDU4PlastiC project. Dr. Shu Zhu, Regional Director & China Representative, and Jin Li, Project Manager, represented ICLEI, while Prof. Elena Cristina Rada from the University of Insubria represented EDU4PlastiC. The discussion highlighted the importance of education, awareness, research, and local action in supporting more sustainable approaches to plastics and environmental protection.
EDU4PlastiC project partners, the University of Insubria and the Politehnica University of Timișoara, also participated in ICEI 2026, where they presented the paper “Environmental Indicators for Plastic.”
The contribution focused on how environmental indicators can support a better understanding of plastic-related environmental impacts and help advance the transition toward more sustainable and circular approaches to plastics. Such indicators can provide valuable information for assessing environmental performance, monitoring progress, identifying areas of concern, and supporting evidence-based decisions by researchers, policymakers, industry, and other stakeholders.
The activities in Beijing also highlighted the value of connecting academic research, education, sustainability governance, and practical initiatives in addressing the environmental challenges associated with plastics.
