Plastic leakage could drop by more than 95% in SE and E Asia
An OECD report presents a way to curb plastics leakage - use in the region has surged almost nine-fold since 1990.
Southeast and East Asia accounts for nearly one-third of global plastics use, finds the report, reaching 152Mt in 2022.
Yearly per capita use ranges from 32kg in lower middle-income countries to more than 100kg in many upper- middle- and high-income countries in the ASEAN Plus Three region.
ASEAN Plus Three countries comprise the 10 ASEAN Member States, as well as China, Japan and Korea.
In 2022, the region leaked 8.4Mt of plastics into the environment, says the OECD, over one-third of the global total, including 3.5Mt from ASEAN Member States and 4.9Mt from China.
Plastic leakage is where plastic enters the terrestial or aquatic environment, resulting from inadequate collection and disposal. This includes plastic waste, such as packaging or beverage cups, which is littered or openly dumped.
Regional Plastics Outlook for Southeast and East Asia finds that, by 2050, plastics use is projected to reach 280Mt per year, with plastic leakage projected to increase by 68% to 14.1Mt per year.
It presents a high stringency scenario that shows how comprehensive action across the plastic lifecycle could reduce use by 28%, more than quadruple regional recycling rates to 54%, and reduce mismanaged waste by 97% in the region by 2050, compared to baseline projections.
'The estimated macroeconomic cost of a high stringency scenario – equivalent to 0.8% of regional GDP in 2050 – is unevenly distributed. ASEAN lower middle-income countries face a steeper cost (2.8% of GDP on average), underscoring the need for enhanced regional co-operation and international support.'
For more like this....
