Page 46 - Plastics News April 2025
P. 46
BUSINESS NEWS
Plastic waste crackdown gains
momentum in Asia-Pacific
India, for instance, announced in 2022 a nation-
wide ban on single-use plastics, targeting items
such as plastic cutlery, straws, and packaging
films. This move came after years of mounting
plastic waste that had clogged rivers and pol-
luted the coastline.
Though implementation remains a challenge, es-
pecially in informal markets and rural areas, the
policy has been a critical step in reshaping public
ountries across the Asia-Pacific region attitudes towards disposable plastics.
are stepping up efforts to reduce plastic
Cwaste through national policies, local in- Indonesia, another major player in the region,
novation, and regional cooperation. has set itself an ambitious goal: to reduce marine
plastic debris by 70% by 2025.
Plastic waste has long posed a formidable chal-
lenge to the global environment, and the Asia- The government has rolled out a national action
Pacific region—home to over half the world’s plan that includes strengthening waste collec-
population and many of the world’s largest tion infrastructure, investing in plastic alterna-
coastal cities—has found itself at the centre of tives, and encouraging producers to adopt ex-
this crisis. tended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes.
Jakarta’s collaboration with private companies
With mounting evidence of the devastating im- and NGOs has shown promise in bringing inno-
pact of plastic pollution on marine life, human vative recycling solutions to urban centres.
health, and ecosystems, countries across the
region have begun implementing decisive meas- Meanwhile, Japan, known for its culture of pack-
ures to tackle the issue. aging, has taken a different route by focusing on
recycling and consumer responsibility.
These actions, which range from sweeping pol-
icy reforms to community-driven innovations, A Plastic Resource Circulation Strategy intro-
reflect a growing commitment to sustainability duced in 2019 encourages manufacturers to
that is expected to leave a lasting legacy. design products with recyclability in mind, while
local governments promote strict waste separa-
Ambitious policies from national governments tion.
Several countries in the Asia-Pacific have taken Though Japan generates significant plastic
the lead in enacting policies aimed at reducing waste per capita, its recycling systems—com-
plastic consumption and improving waste man- bined with a shift towards biodegradable pack-
agement systems. aging—are showing incremental progress.
46 PLASTICS NEWS April 2025
