Reduce plastic production to reduce pollution, Asean urged

A group of environmentalists said the Bangkok Declaration and the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris is a good example of how regional action can be achieved to address a common challenge.

“However, the Framework falls short of addressing the plastic pollution problem at root, by giving more focus to waste management rather than the need to reduce the production of single use plastics so that they don’t end up as waste,” Greenpeace pointed out.

This came after Southeast Asian nations earlier vowed to fight against plastic pollution in the ocean, as their leaders adopted a joint declaration during a summit in Bangkok.

“Limiting the scope of the Framework to marine debris focuses only at the end-of-pipe – after plastic pollution has been manufactured--approaches the problem as a waste recovery, management and disposal issue. However, the issue is not how to manage plastic waste so they don’t end up as marine debris – but how all nations must focus upstream, and drastically reduce plastic production,” Greenpeace said, saying plastics is a pollution problem, not a litter problem, and must be addressed throughout its life cycle, from production to end of life.

Therese Salvador, media relations coordinator, Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said that while the Framework touched on innovation and alternatives, it lacks the vision to develop appropriate systems, not merely for replacement of packaging with other disposable materials. With advancements in technology, ASEAN governments are in a position to develop ‘greener’ innovations to help facilitate a mindset shift on single-use plastic, she added.

To effectively reduce plastics pollution, whether on land or at sea, Greenpeace said ASEAN nations must go beyond this Framework and institute policies at home that ensure a lot less single-use plastic products will be manufactured. This can be done through regulations and bans on single-use plastics, and laws that will facilitate redesign of packaging and product delivery systems.

Most importantly, Salvador said, the Framework failed to address the problem of waste imports, saying “ASEAN nations have been struggling against the waste trade which has serious ecological and social consequences. ASEAN’s non-action on the waste trade issue, even those for recycling, is alarming when the summit is the best time to address it.”