In Guadeloupe, creativity in the service of zero waste – Global Voices

Report on Waste Management and Circular Economy Initiatives in Guadeloupe in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Waste Management Challenges and Sustainable Development Goals

Guadeloupe is actively implementing a multi-faceted strategy involving citizen initiatives, artistic engagement, and public policy to transform its waste management systems. This approach directly addresses several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). The urgency for this transformation is underscored by 2023 data from the regional waste observatory (ORDEC), which indicates a significant challenge in waste recovery.

• Total Waste Produced (2023): 346,720 tonnes
• Waste Recovered: 25%
• Waste Landfilled: 60%

This data highlights the critical need to enhance waste recovery channels to meet the objectives of a circular economy and contribute to a sustainable future for the archipelago.

Grassroots and Artistic Initiatives Driving the Circular Economy

L’Admérane: Fostering Sustainable Production and Decent Work (SDG 12 & SDG 8)

Creative and social enterprises are emerging as key drivers of ecological change. L’Admérane, a creative space in Capesterre-Belle-Eau, exemplifies this trend by transforming textile waste into new products. The initiative, led by the association Le Nouveau Mode, directly contributes to several SDGs:

1. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): By upcycling discarded clothing and materials, L’Admérane promotes a circular economy model, giving a second life to items destined for landfills and raising public awareness about sustainable fashion.
2. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The space provides skills training in sewing to fashion entrepreneurs and social welfare (RSO) beneficiaries, creating local employment opportunities and fostering economic empowerment.
3. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): A partnership with the telecommunications company Orange Caraïbe demonstrates effective cross-sector collaboration, where corporate waste like advertising banners is repurposed into new products.

However, the initiative faces challenges from the “ultra-fast fashion” industry, whose poor-quality materials hinder recycling efforts and contradict the principles of sustainable consumption.

Art as a Response to Overconsumption (SDG 12)

The work of artist and eco-designer Guy Gabon serves as a powerful critique of overconsumption. By exclusively using secondary materials (waste) in her art, she champions a fundamental shift in production patterns. Her practice is a direct artistic intervention aimed at promoting the principles of SDG 12. Gabon advocates for a necessary change in societal behavior, emphasizing that a sustainable transition requires a conscious reduction in consumption and a move away from a disposable culture.

Advancing Sustainable Practices in the Events Sector

Waste Reduction Strategies for Responsible Events (SDG 12)

The events sector, a significant generator of waste, is increasingly adopting policies aligned with SDG 12.5, which aims to substantially reduce waste generation. Organizers are implementing strategies to minimize environmental impact through:

• Responsible purchasing policies
• Provision of reusable cups and washable tableware
• Limiting single-use plastics
• Promoting food composting
• Public awareness campaigns for staff and attendees

Associations such as Mouvances Caraïbes play a crucial role in managing waste at events and educating the public, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. Despite these efforts, financial constraints remain a significant barrier, particularly for smaller events, where environmental measures are often the first to be cut from fluctuating budgets.

Public Policy and Regional Cooperation for a Zero-Waste Future

Governmental Framework and Infrastructure Development (SDG 9, SDG 11, & SDG 17)

The Regional Council of Guadeloupe has established an ambitious public policy goal: to make the archipelago a “zero-waste territory” by 2035. This objective is a core component of its commitment to SDG 11.6 (reducing the environmental impact of cities through improved waste management). Key actions include:

1. Inter-municipal Cooperation: Since 2016, waste treatment responsibilities have been consolidated under public, inter-municipal bodies (EPCI) to streamline management and create new recovery facilities.
2. Infrastructure Innovation (SDG 9): An energy recovery plant is scheduled to open in 2028. This EUR 96 million project will incinerate waste to produce electricity, contributing to both sustainable waste management and clean energy goals.
3. Regional Partnerships (SDG 17): In September 2024, Guadeloupe signed an agreement for the “Zero Waste in the Caribbean” project. This initiative, financed by INTERREG Caribbean and led by the Syvade union, involves collaboration with the Dominican Republic, Dominica, and Saint Lucia to pool knowledge and develop regional waste recovery sectors, demonstrating a strong commitment to international cooperation for sustainable development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article highlights how the circular economy and waste recovery initiatives are creating economic opportunities and jobs in Guadeloupe. For instance, the association Le Nouveau Mode, through its space l’Admérane, welcomes fashion entrepreneurs and provides sewing skills training. The article explicitly states, “Recovering this waste creates jobs,” directly linking waste management to economic growth and employment.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The core theme of the article is waste management within the territory of Guadeloupe. It discusses the challenges of waste disposal, with “60 percent was buried in two non-hazardous waste storage facilities.” It also outlines public sector efforts to improve this, such as municipalities transferring waste treatment responsibilities to public inter-municipal cooperations (EPCI) and the plan to open an energy recovery plant in 2028. These actions are central to making communities more sustainable by managing their waste effectively.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • This is the most prominent SDG in the article. It addresses the entire lifecycle of products, from consumption to waste generation and management. The article discusses fighting “fast fashion,” promoting upcycling to give materials a “second life,” and the overall goal of making the archipelago a “zero-waste territory by 2035.” Initiatives like l’Admérane, the work of eco-designer Guy Gabon, and policies at festivals to reduce single-use products all promote sustainable consumption and production patterns.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article provides several examples of collaborations to achieve sustainability goals. These include public-private partnerships, such as l’Admérane’s collaboration with Orange Caraïbe; civil society and public sector cooperation, with l’Admérane being supported by the Conseil Départemental de la Guadeloupe; and international cooperation, exemplified by the “Zero Waste in the Caribbean project,” which involves multiple Caribbean territories and is financed by INTERREG Caribbean.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.
   • The article directly addresses this target by focusing on Guadeloupe’s struggle with municipal waste. It provides data on waste production (346,720 tonnes) and the high percentage that is landfilled (60%). The government’s response, including creating new waste treatment facilities and an energy recovery plant, are concrete actions aimed at improving waste management and reducing the environmental impact.
2. Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
   • This target is central to the article. The initiatives described, such as upcycling clothes and banners at l’Admérane, the work of artist Guy Gabon who uses secondary materials, and sustainable festivals that reduce single-use products, are all forms of waste prevention, reduction, and reuse. The regional goal of becoming a “zero-waste territory by 2035” is a direct commitment to this target.
3. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation…
   • The article showcases how spaces like l’Admérane function as hubs for creativity, entrepreneurship, and job creation within the green economy. By providing training in sewing skills and supporting fashion entrepreneurs, the initiative directly aligns with promoting productive activities and innovation in the circular economy sector.
4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…
   • The article details multiple partnerships. The “Zero Waste in the Caribbean project” is a public-public partnership between several territories. The collaboration between l’Admérane (civil society) and Orange Caraïbe (private sector) is a clear example of a public-private-civil society partnership, as the initiative is also supported by the public Conseil Départemental.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Total waste generated and recovery rate (Indicator for Target 12.5)
   • The article provides specific quantitative data: “in 2023, the country produced 346,720 tonnes of waste.” It also states that “A quarter of this was recovered.” These figures serve as direct indicators for measuring waste generation and the national recycling/recovery rate, which are key metrics for tracking progress on waste reduction.
2. Proportion of waste managed in controlled facilities (Indicator for Target 11.6)
   • The article mentions that 60% of waste was “buried in two non-hazardous waste storage facilities.” It also discusses plans for an “energy recovery plant.” The proportion of waste that is landfilled versus recovered (recycled, composted, or incinerated for energy) is a critical indicator of how effectively a community is managing its municipal waste.
3. Number of jobs created in the green economy (Implied Indicator for Target 8.3)
   • While the article does not provide a specific number, it strongly implies that job creation is a key outcome of these initiatives. The statement “Recovering this waste creates jobs” and the description of l’Admérane as a place where people “come to learn sewing skills” suggest that the number of people employed or trained in the circular economy sector is a relevant, albeit unstated, indicator.
4. Number and scope of sustainability partnerships (Indicator for Target 17.17)
   • The article explicitly names several partnerships, such as the one between l’Admérane and Orange Caraïbe, and the regional “Zero Waste in the Caribbean project” involving multiple countries. The number of such agreements and the scale of their activities can be used as an indicator to measure the progress of collaborative efforts for sustainable development.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: globalvoices.org