The World Economic Forum recently released a report documenting the plastic problem permeating the ASEAN reason. The plastic pollution crisis in the ASEAN region isn’t just an environmental issue, it is a symptom of a deeper-rooted illness in many of its member countries, sachet economy. This economy, driven by the affordable single-use sachets for daily commodities, targets the economically impoverished. And in doing so, it only worsens the plastic waste problem. While countries in the region, such as the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, consume goods on par with other nations, they generate a disproportionate amount of plastic waste globally. While there are other causes for the general plastic pollution surrounding these islands in the region, such as coastlines and rainfall, turning off the faucet seems to be top priority. Without stopping the flow of these single use plastics, any efforts to remove plastic from the region’s waters would be like paling water out an overflowing bathtub without first turning off the faucet. This is where regional efforts such as small recycling companies need to work in tandem with larger agencies and governments, to not only dispose of plastic already in the tub properly, but also simultaneously turn off the source so it does not keep overflowing.
Throughout our semester, we’ve delved deep into regional cooperation and individual state politics. The sachet economy and its implications on plastic pollution in the ASEAN region demonstrate the relation between socio-economic realities and policymaking. Individual nations have recognized the severity of the issue by banning single-use plastics through policy making like the ERP Act in the Philippines, mandating plastic producers oversee the entire life cycle of their products, emphasizing disposal and recycling, aiming to “turn off the tap” of existing plastic flow. This would be beneficial in cases like the Philippines, where if implemented successfully, they can stop the flow of new plastics unable to be disposed of by the manufactures, all while allowing the already exhausting plastic recyclers in their economies to focus on the existing plastic. If done correctly, they can theoretically empty the tub and not worry about it overflowing again.
However, the adoption of these policies across the ASEAN region is inconsistent. While countries like Vietnam and the Philippines have made regulations mandatory, others countries in the region, like Thailand, lean towards voluntary measures. This inconsistency can be attributed to the diverse political and economic landscapes of Southeast Asian countries, a topic we’ve frequently touched upon in our discussions.
The ASEAN region’s battle against plastic pollution is rooted deeply in its sachet economy. Additionally, challenges of regional cooperation and the intricacies of policy alignment make tackling this issue a huge problem. This doesn’t mean that the future is doomed, the region’s potential transition from a major plastic polluter to a leader in green initiatives underscores the power of collective action and regional collaboration.