PlasticSmart Cambodia: Business Cases and Practices to Mitigate Plastic Waste and Pollution for a Sustainable Future

Context and Background

CARE International is a globally recognized development organization dedicated to alleviating poverty and fostering sustainable development through strategic partnerships and evidence-based interventions. Since 1973, CARE Cambodia has implemented diverse initiatives aimed at empowering marginalized and vulnerable communities, with a particular emphasis on gender equity and environmental sustainability.

Cambodia faces critical challenges stemming from plastic pollution, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas surrounding industrial garment factories. Food vendors operating near these factories contribute significantly to single-use plastic waste due to its widespread availability, low cost, and habitual reliance. The lack of sustainable alternatives, coupled with limited awareness of eco-friendly solutions, exacerbates environmental degradation in these communities.

CARE Austria, together with CARE Cambodia, in cooperation with the Youth Council of Cambodia (YCC) and Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA), are implementing the PlasticSmart Cambodia project, running between December 2024 and December 2027 and. Funded by the European Union. PlasticSmart Cambodia aims to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by promoting sustainable packaging and waste management practices.

The assessment will provide empirical insights into current packaging practices, identify barriers to sustainability, and design viable alternative business models that are both environmentally friendly and economically feasible for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The findings will inform pilot interventions targeting 200+ food vendors across four industrial factory zones in Kandal, Kampong Chhnang, and Kampong Cham provinces.

Purpose and Objectives

Primary Objective:

To identify, develop and pilot sustainable, profitable and gender-sensitive packaging business models for food vendors, enabling scalable solutions to reduce plastic waste and environmental impact.

Specific objectives include: 

1. Assess Existing Practices: Document packaging types, materials, vendor usage behavior, customer preferences, cost factors, and supply chain dynamics.
2. Evaluate Challenges: Identify financial, operational, cultural, and gender-specific bottlenecks that hinder the adoption of sustainable packaging by food vendors.
3. Map Opportunities: Identify potential suppliers of sustainable packaging materials, evaluate their capacity, assess market accessibility, and analyze cost structures for vendors.
4. Design Business Models: Develop at least two evidence-based business models for sustainable packaging that are feasible, profitable, environmentally impactful, and sensitive to gender-specific considerations.
5. Produce Recommendations: Provide a roadmap for pilot rollouts, vendor training, and scaling strategies to integrate sustainable packaging materials into the food vending ecosystem.