Plastic Problems in Southeast Asia

Artful Transformations: Southeast Asian Artists Embrace Trash as a Medium for Change

In Southeast Asia, artists are transforming the region's trash into a source of inspiration. With over a million of tonnes of plastic waste entering the sea annually, these artists are advocating for sustainability through their work. They redefine beauty from discarded objects, addressing pollution issues creatively, inviting audiences to rethink their relationship with waste and embrace a more responsible approach to consumption.

By Philip Cornwel-Smith

The Plastic Crisis Must Be on the Feminist Agenda

An abundance of plastic is overwhelming our environment and threatening our health. There is a clear absence of gender-considerate approaches, even though women are significantly discriminated against, due to their increased exposure via household labor, work in the plastics industry, and use of menstrual plastic products. Female-led solutions to recycling and unpacking gender norms can contribute greatly to addressing this issue, though it remains a problem for everyone to deal with.

By Cinnamon Isabella Ernst

Marine Plastic Pollution and Climate Change: Regional and National Action in Southeast Asia

Urgent action is needed to deal with plastic litter in the ocean – and a sea change is occurring on this front. Some countries in Southeast Asia are developing plans of action for policy reform as a notable first step. Legal frameworks that support the shift towards a circular economy approach in plastics, spur systemic changes in production and consumption, and promote positive individual behavior would help address the longer-term problem.

By Rocky Guzman

Trash collector

Waste Overload: Another Enemy in the Fight against COVID-19

Several cities and provinces in Vietnam are reopening after a so-called tragic fourth wave of COVID-19. Along with societal and economic losses, waste generated from daily routines and medical facilities has become a huge consequence and the country must learn how to deal with the overwhelming waste.

By Le Dinh Tuyen

Mask

COVID-19 in Malaysia: A Plastic Pandemic

Some may think that addressing sustainability - whether plastic use or climate change - can come after economic recovery from COVID-19. But they are not separate issues at all.

By Philip Golingai

Plastic

Plastic Fantastic – Solving the Problem We Created for Ourselves

The only way to improve the global problem of plastic is for environmental stewardship by every individual, company and government on earth. That requires an understanding that helping the planet goes beyond saying no to straws and plastic bags, good though that first step may be.

By Serina Rahman

Climate Change and Plastic - Tara Buakamsri - Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Southeast Asia

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We have to reduce plastic usage and consumption in our society

Tara Buakamsri

Phu Quoc

Plastic Wastes Pose Threats on Vietnam’s Environment

Plastic waste is considered a global environment problem and Vietnam has been listed as one of the heaviest countries struck by it in the world. Some actions have been implemented to fight against the issue such as “White pollution”. However, changing awareness and behavior remain biggest challenges.

By Le Dinh Tuyen

fruit juice

Laos Needs Another Revolution but This Time with Single-Use Plastic

Like in any other country, plastic is widely used and it is everywhere to be found in the Lao PDR, a landlocked country in Southeast Asia with a population of 7 million people. Plastic has become part of our modern life. Yet as omnipresent as it is, our ever-increasing reliance on single-use plastics, our throwaway culture and poor waste management system have created a huge problem.

By Vannaphone Sitthirath

Littered beach in Bali

Indonesia’s Battle Against Plastic Pollution

We all know that plastics crisis endangers our future, especially for the next generation. We have to do something starting from now, even it is just a small step. Be more responsible and mind your consumption pattern. Let this movement against single-use plastics become bigger and bigger so it would be heard by the government and industries and could pressure them to make impactful actions for a better future.

By Muharram Atha Rasyadi

Freedom Island, the Philippines

Philippines: Banning Single-Use Plastics at the National Level and Strengthening Existing Laws Needed to Curb Plastic Pollution Crisis

Single-use plastics have been in the spotlight for the past years because of its impact on our environment. It pollutes throughout its lifecycle beginning from extraction, refining, and ending in their disposal in the oceans and waterways, soil, and in the air we breathe through burning or incineration. In fact, it does not only impact our environment but also our health, livelihoods, food and wildlife. Further, plastics do not biodegrade. Instead they slowly break down into smaller pieces of plastic called microplastics.

breathe

Plastics, Fossil Fuels and Desire: A Dive into the Complexities of a Plastic-Free World

Plastic is a brilliant invention. Through its uses in medicine, public health and in urban planning, it has likely saved many lives. A right relationship with it begins with acknowledging the importance of plastic. At the same time, a lot of the ways we use plastic today is non-essential. In fact, one could argue that by designing plastic to be used in such a careless and thoughtless way is disrespectful of the invention itself. It could be out there saving lives, but instead it is used to carry potato chips for 12 minutes. It is not the plastic that is the problem, but the way we choose to design it, source it, produce it and use it.

By Melody Tay Xi Ching

Check our Web-dossier: Thailand's Plastic Challenge and Circular Economy

Thailand’s Plastic Challenge and Circular Economy

Articles and Video Contributors

Philip Cornwel-Smith

Freelance writer and Author

Serina Rahman

Lecturer at Department of Southeast Asian Studies, National University of Singapore

tara

Tara Buakamsri

Thailand Country Director for Greenpeace Southeast Asia

Jed

Jed Alegado

Senior Communications Officer for Asia Pacific at #breakfreefromplastic movement

Cinnamon Isabella Ernst

Master Student at University of Vienna, Intern of hbs Southeast Asia January - March 2022

Le Dinh Tuyen

Journalist at Thanh Nien Newspaper

Philip

Philip Golingai

News Editor with Star Media Group, Malaysia

Atha

Muharram Atha Rasyadi

Urban People Power Campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia - Indonesia

Kino

Vannaphone Sitthirath

Media and Communication Consultant

Melody

Melody Tay Xi Ching

Environmental Advocate, Artist and Writer

Rocky

Rocky Guzman

Environmental lawyer and Deputy Director of the Asian Research Institute for Environmental Law

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