PLASTIC pollution is suffocating our planet – and it’s only getting  worse. Production has rocketed in the last two decades, with more plastic being produced between 2003 and 2016 than in the whole of the 20th century. 

While plastic is cheap and versatile, with countless uses across many industries, almost half of all plastic is used to create short-lived or single-use products that can spend hundreds of years degrading. Globally, less than 10% of plastic products are recycled. According to a report published  by WWF-Malaysia, the estimated total annual post-consumer plastic waste generation in Malaysia  in 2016 at over one million tonnes, which is equal to the weight of almost 10,000 blue whales and can fill up 76,000 garbage trucks. Alarmingly, in 2021, our Klang river is listed as among the world’s highest emitters of plastic into the ocean. It holds the tie of being the second highest riverine emitter of plastic with India’s Uthas river and the Philippines’ Tullahan river. 

This is why the recent announcement by the Natural Resources, Energy and  Climate Change Ministry on the government’s plan to eliminate usage of plastic bags for retail  purposes across all business sectors nationwide by 2025, is welcome. According to the minister, Tuan Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the campaign is carried out in stages, starting with fixed business locations like supermarkets and certain shops. The campaign would then be expanded to other business locations after being implemented in all physical outlets, including roadside stalls,  by 2025. 

WWF-Malaysia is fully supportive of this plan; however, execution is key to ensuring its impact  and effectiveness. While we acknowledge that this ban will help in the phasing out and reduction of single-use plastic and encourage consumers to adopt more sustainable habits, there should also be clear steps on how this ban will be implemented in the retail industry. Improved waste management and responsible production and consumption of plastics should also be looked into. 

We believe the ban should be complemented by clear targets and timelines to ensure progress is made towards eventual elimination. Detailed specification of targets and schedules can also help to reduce the prospect of confusion and market disruption and create clear expectations for producers and retailers. Monitoring and enforcement activity would play a significant role in ensuring the effectiveness of this ban.  

In addition, we need to develop a stream of strategic interventions for positive behaviour change to reduce the demand for single-use plastic. Proper teaching and learning experiences (curriculum  and co-curriculum) should be created and allowed for teachers, lecturers, students, parents and  communities to take part in the initiative.

WWF is calling on governments to support global bans and phase-outs of the “most high-risk and unnecessary” single-use plastic products. Many countries are already implementing measures, from bans of plastic items, such as bags or straws and stirrers, to microbeads in cosmetics or single-use food and beverage items. Nonetheless, despite regulation and voluntary measures at national  levels, efforts have not proven enough to stop plastic leaking into the environment in one location, and ending up hundreds or even thousands of kilometres away. 

We applaud the government’s introduction of the circular economy in the 12th Malaysia Plan, as it will set directions for better measures on product packaging and design for reuse,  recycling or waste management. For Malaysia to embark on the transition to a circular economy,  we need businesses and consumers to start acknowledging the problem and take accountability to mitigate the plastic and packaging pollution crisis. It is crucial to keep track of the national  progress and to identify effective measures to close the gaps. 

The government’s announcement also comes at an opportune moment, in conjunction with this year’s World Environment Day theme of “Beat Plastic Pollution”. The plastics problem is so large  that it has to be tackled by all parties - from the government to businesses to civil societies and the  public. It is insufficient to simply expand waste collection, landfill, incineration and recycling. The most significant step would be to combine these measures with a reduction of plastic in the system and rethinking packaging and product designs and business models, such as scaling up of reuse and  refillable models. Finally, they have to be supported by standards, policies and regulations to enable the circular economy to thrive. – May 16, 2023.

* WWF-Malaysia is part of international conservation organisation WWF.