Malaysia is stepping up efforts to control plastic waste imports and enforce Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) material certification as part of its strategy to strengthen a circular economy within the industrial sector.
Making recycling mandatory is part of a broader strategy to achieve the government’s waste management targets by 2029, as outlined in the 2025–2029 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). Previously, Indonesia banned plastic scrap imports from January 1, 2025.
The 10 winners are gearing up for a nine-month sprint to pilot and scale their projects, with a grand showcase slated for 2026.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
As plastic waste continues to choke our oceans, rivers, and landscapes, Vietnam is ramping up efforts to tackle one of the world’s most pressing environmental threats. In a strong call to action, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is urging every citizen to be part of the solution—beginning at home.
World Environment Day 2025, initiated by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), is themed “Beat Plastic Pollution”, calling on the global community to take bold action in tackling plastic waste - one of the most urgent environmental challenges today. In recent years, Vietnam has issued and implemented numerous key policies, programs, and strategies aimed at improving plastic waste management and minimizing plastic pollution.
Vietnam has taken various steps to manage marine plastic waste, including the National Action Plan to 2030. However, weak links between island and mainland development, along with increasing marine pollution, remain key challenges.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, approximately 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated in Vietnam every year, with between 0.28 - 0.73 million tonnes of this waste ending up in the oceans. Only 27% of plastic waste is recycled or repurposed by businesses and facilities.
The project aims to identify sources of plastic waste, assess its socioeconomic and environmental impacts, and propose policies to minimise its effects on coastal communities and key industries such as fisheries and tourism.
Following extensive assessment, WWF-Vietnam has recognised six particularly successful models that could be expanded.
Dr Nguyen Trung Thang and a research team from the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment have proposed a three-pronged approach that combines policy reform, market incentives and public awareness improvement to combat Vietnam’s growing plastic waste crisis.
The Indonesian government will start imposing a ban on the import of plastic waste from the beginning of next year, according to Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurrofiq.
The Philippines expects its "Extended Producer Responsibility" (EPR) that came into force last year will help it curb plastic waste.
Malaysia is the world’s second-largest dumping ground for plastic waste from the European Union (EU), undermining its government’s commitments to prevent the Southeast Asian nation from becoming a dumping ground for detritus from around the world.
Forest fires and deforestation in Indonesia declined drastically in the last 10 years, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar said on September 29.
According to a representative from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, innovating waste collection technology in rivers will help the Southeast Asian country to prevent plastic waste from reaching the sea.
Many coastal and island localities have developed action plans to raise awareness of environmental protection and promote tourism development in conjunction with solutions to reduce plastic waste.
Malaysia will raise the issue of plastic pollution plaguing the world when it hosts the ASEAN Summit 2025, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Nik Nazmi Nik Admad told the press on July 16.
Together with other countries in the world, Vietnam has been taking actions to reduce plastic waste and the use of single-use plastic bags, towards a plastic bag free community.
Together with other countries in the world, Vietnam has been taking actions to reduce plastic waste and the use of single-use plastic bags, towards a plastic bag free community.