The Ending Plastic Pollution Innovation Challenge (EPPIC) is an ASEAN-wide competition aiming to beat plastic pollution in coastal cities of Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Lao DPR, and Cambodia.

In the context of the growing plastic pollution globally and in Cambodia’s coastal areas, the project led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, brings together citizens, local governments, and the private sector to identify pressing issues and collaborate in finding innovative solutions and helping them to grow and scale up.

8 innovative startup ventures were competitively selected for the 3-month incubation program. These innovative businesses ranged from advancing upcycling/recycling, alternative plastic solutions, and technology-driven pollution management. Through the incubation program, the teams deepened their understanding of local and regional plastic pollution issues and strengthened their business skills. Finally, two teams – Tontoton and WeLab were selected at a public pitch event for the 9-month accelerator phase — each receiving $18,000 in funding, masterclasses, and ongoing mentorship.

With support from Impact Hub Phnom Penh, the two awardees have leaps forward in their business development, and the support from EPPIC — both the grant funds and the technical support in the form of mentorship, introductions, and visibility — were transformative to the ventures in this journey.