Women, Indigenous Peoples and many traditionally marginalized communities play a leading role in combatting plastic waste and pollution worldwide. Recognizing and uplifting their work is key to advancing global progress towards a plastic pollution-free world, as well as many Sustainable Development Goals such as marine biodiversity, public health, water and sanitation, and sustainable communities. At the same time, the unique challenges and needs of women and diverse communities, many of whom derive their livelihoods from waste collection in the informal labor sector, must also be taken into consideration as governments, businesses and civil society work together to champion the shift to a circular economy. GPAP and its members have identified a critical knowledge gap globally in how