The region of Southeast Asia has emerged as a hotspot for plastic pollution.

The use of plastic is an integral part of our daily lives, present in everything from grocery bags and utensils to water bottles and sandwich wrappers. However, the pursuit of convenience may have gone too far, and our failure to use plastic materials efficiently has led to the waste of valuable resources and harm to the environment.

Excessive plastic consumption and poor management of plastic waste represent a growing threat.

The overflowing of waste dumps, the choking of rivers, and the threat to marine ecosystems are causing all of this to have a negative impact on vital sectors in many economies, including tourism, shipping, and fishing.

Southeast Asia has emerged as a hotspot for plastic pollution due to rapid urban expansion and the rise of the middle class, which has increased its consumption of plastic products and packaging materials for their ease of use and multiple purposes. However, the local waste management infrastructure has not kept pace with these developments, resulting in the accumulation of large quantities of poorly managed waste. Additionally, the spread of the coronavirus has exacerbated the situation due to increased consumption of masks, hand sanitizers, and packaging materials for online deliveries.

In Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia, more than 57% of the material value of recyclable plastic is lost – equivalent to $6 billion annually – when disposing of single-use plastic instead of recovering and recycling it. This is the conclusion reached by a series of prominent studies prepared by the World Bank Group.

With the recycling and recovery rates of recyclable plastic in these countries ranging from 18% to 28%, most plastic packaging waste is not only left to pollute the environment and spread on beaches and roadsides, but also loses its value in those economies. This situation needs to change. Transforming our use and management of plastic materials is essential, and we must assist the countries involved in transitioning to a circular economy that aims to design products that leave no waste behind, or can be reused and recycled.

With a recycling rate of plastic materials ranging from 18% to 28% in those countries, most plastic packaging and wrapping waste not only pollutes the environment and spreads on beaches and roadsides, but also loses its value in those economies. This situation needs to change. Transforming our use and management of plastic materials is necessary. We must assist countries in transitioning to a recycling economy that aims to design products that leave no waste behind, or can be reused and recycled. Victoria Kwakwa Vice President of the World Bank for East Asia and the Pacific region It is worth mentioning that momentum to address this issue is growing. Countries, companies, and local communities are working on strategies and taking actions to reduce the use of plastic materials and promote their reuse and recycling. Governments in Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia have developed action plans for a recycling economy, prioritizing policies and investments related to plastic materials in targeted sectors and locations. Some leading global brands and retailers have also made voluntary commitments to make plastic packaging recyclable.