23 November 2021: Representatives from the government of Malaysia, the private sector in the field of plastics, an international alliance, and ERIA, gathered at an online event today to discuss the pressing issue of marine plastics. The event came just a few days after the soft-launch of Malaysia's National Marine Litter Policy and Action Plan 2021–2030 at the SEA of Solutions 2021 virtual event on 16 November. The Action Plan aims to achieve six national outcomes, including multistakeholder engagement and the use of the latest technology and standards, both of which require strong private sector involvement.
Mr Dato Jana Santhiran Muniayan, Deputy Secretary-General of Malaysia's Ministry of Environment and Water, in his opening remarks underlined the importance of changing our relationships with plastic toward a more circular model. Given the transboundary nature of marine plastics, the efforts to combat this pollution need to be well-coordinated among all stakeholders, he said.
To ensure the global circularity of plastics, both the government and the business sector need good collaboration, he said, as significant economic issues such as plastics cannot be resolved by one actor alone. Malaysia is finalizing the Plastic Sustainability Roadmap 2021–2030, to enhance plastic circularity through extended producer responsibility (EPR), and the private sector role will continue to grow.
‘It is our greatest hope that today’s programme can help spur the innovation in addressing the marine plastic agenda. Thank you ERIA, for complimenting Malaysia’s journey toward achieving plastic circularity and addressing marine plastic pollution,’ he said.
Ms Pauline Goh, General Manager of the Malaysian Recycling Alliance (MAREA), said the application of EPR has already been put into effect by her alliance. Industry-driven voluntary EPR efforts are at the core of all 10 of MAREA’s affiliated private companies, which got together in 2019 to find solutions to tackle consumer packaging waste.
MAREA, which launched its activities in January 2021, hopes to work with consumers, waste collectors, recyclers, and the government to achieve a 25% recycling rate by 2025 for the post-consumer packaging materials of the affiliated companies.
‘MAREA’s activities revolve around consumer education, collection, sorting, recycling, and the focus, for now, is on plastics. We intend to keep our membership growing, to scale up the activities,’ she said.
Also read: Ms Pauline Goh’s presentation
Mr Ayamany A/L P Sinakalai, CEO of Jesa Enterprise Sdn Bhd, which manufacturers the brand Fallaleaf, said he was shocked by the amount of plastic waste in the environment and began to look into using palm leaves as a solution to single-use-plastic pollution. After many years of product development utilising his engineering background, Mr Ayamany has created biodegradable dishware products using palm leaves as its raw material.
Palm leaves are abundant and ubiquitous in Malaysia, and are collected when they have fallen naturally and not harvested when still green, making the process environmentally sustainable. Once cleaned with high-pressure water, the leaves are dried completely, and without any chemical additives, and heat moulds them into dishware.
‘Consumers can use the palm-leaf dishware up to 10 times before throwing it away, and they are biodegradable,’ he said.
Also read: Mr Ayamany’s presentation
Ms Wee Ching Yun, Chairman of Sustainability Sub-Committee of the Malaysia Plastic Manufacturers Association (MPMA), introduced her association, which was established in 1967. MPMA has over 700 members, representing 60% of plastics manufacturers accounting for 80% of the total plastic production of Malaysia. MPMA educates and empowers member companies with plastic knowledge, including advanced technologies for better recycling, to ensure sustainability and future growth of the plastic industry.
Using innovation to make plastic recyclable, reusable, or compostable is the objective MPMA has set for itself. To provide concrete examples, Ms Wee showcased five success stories of MPMA member companies: Daibochi Berhad switched from non-recyclable multi-material laminate packaging to fully recyclable mono-material laminate; Thong Guan Industries produced stretch films with 30% recycled content; Sekoplas Industries made its garbage bags photodegradable; Diyou Fibre produces post-consumer recyclates; and HENG HIAP INDUSTRIES is known for its Ocean Bound Plastic recycling.
‘Consumer choice is a crucially important component that pushes the industry in a sustainable direction. For that reason, awareness-raising and education will remain vital factors,’ Ms Wee said..
Also read: Ms Wee Ching Yun’s presentation
Mr Thomas Chhoa, Senior Advisor in the Office of the CEO of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), said AEPW works globally in developing practical solutions throughout the plastic value chain, from production to recycling.
Mr Chhoa noted the existing gaps in achieving plastic circularity: the design, data, alignment, quantity, quality, and affordability gaps.
‘Closing those gaps is what AEPW and its partners consider as their missions,’ he said.
Also read: Mr Thomas Chhoa’s presentation
Ms Ellen Putri Edita, Research Associate at ERIA's Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (the Centre), said the private sector is one of the most important stakeholders in plastic waste solutions. The Centre's online Private Sector Platform showcases positive business practices in plastic waste reduction conducted by private companies in ASEAN+3.
Ms Ellen emphasised that companies need to fulfil two simple conditions to participate in the platform: business activities must be operating in the ASEAN+3 region, and the said business activities need to contribute to plastic waste reduction. She encouraged eligible private sector participants in the audience to take part in the platform, where future business opportunities may lie.
The Importance of Education
Ms Wee underscored the importance of education, especially to school-age children, when asked about the role of alliances in supporting the new National Marine Litter Policy and Action Plan 2021-2030, as it will be vital to encourage segregation at source.
Ms Goh added that education is most effective when offered to young children in their formative years, referring to Japan and Taiwan as good examples of environmental education being part of the school curriculum. MAREA would like to collaborate with the ministry of education on this, she said.
As for the challenges that small-to-medium companies like Jesa Enterprise face in developing new products, Mr Ayamany cited the lack of retailer awareness – often his palm-leaf dishware is displayed right next to the single-use plastic cutlery he aims to replace in supermarkets.
‘This is rather disappointing as we want to communicate to the consumers the added value of our products,’ he said.
Ms Wee stressed the critical role played by citizens in separating waste at source. Whether it is about recycling or composting, consumers and other actors need to fulfil their obligations.
When asked whether retailers should be obliged to use recycled material, Mr Chhoa said that for such products to be understood as genuinely eco-friendly, we must first closely examine the life cycle assessment of the products.
‘We must address the information gaps in alignment, affordability, and quality to ensure we are communicating the correct information and create incentives,’ he said.
Mr Michikazu Kojima, the Centre Team Leader, expressed his sincere thanks to all participants for their valuable contributions. The event discussed a wide range of topics, such as voluntary EPR, alternative materials to plastic, recycling and segregation at source, education, and awareness-raising, and many ways to achieve plastic circularity.
‘I hope that the event was inspiring and beneficial in further propelling the discussion on reducing marine plastic debris in the region,’ he said.
Communication Desk
23 November 2021: Representatives from the government of Malaysia, the private sector in the field of plastics, an international alliance, and ERIA, gathered at an online event today to discuss the pressing issue of marine plastics. The event came just a few days after the soft-launch of Malaysia's National Marine Litter Policy and Action Plan 2021–2030 at the SEA of Solutions 2021 virtual event on 16 November. The Action Plan aims to achieve six national outcomes, including multistakeholder engagement and the use of the latest technology and standards, both of which require strong private sector involvement.
Mr Dato Jana Santhiran Muniayan, Deputy Secretary-General of Malaysia's Ministry of Environment and Water, in his opening remarks underlined the importance of changing our relationships with plastic toward a more circular model. Given the transboundary nature of marine plastics, the efforts to combat this pollution need to be well-coordinated among all stakeholders, he said.
To ensure the global circularity of plastics, both the government and the business sector need good collaboration, he said, as significant economic issues such as plastics cannot be resolved by one actor alone. Malaysia is finalizing the Plastic Sustainability Roadmap 2021–2030, to enhance plastic circularity through extended producer responsibility (EPR), and the private sector role will continue to grow.
‘It is our greatest hope that today’s programme can help spur the innovation in addressing the marine plastic agenda. Thank you ERIA, for complimenting Malaysia’s journey toward achieving plastic circularity and addressing marine plastic pollution,’ he said.
Ms Pauline Goh, General Manager of the Malaysian Recycling Alliance (MAREA), said the application of EPR has already been put into effect by her alliance. Industry-driven voluntary EPR efforts are at the core of all 10 of MAREA’s affiliated private companies, which got together in 2019 to find solutions to tackle consumer packaging waste.
MAREA, which launched its activities in January 2021, hopes to work with consumers, waste collectors, recyclers, and the government to achieve a 25% recycling rate by 2025 for the post-consumer packaging materials of the affiliated companies.
‘MAREA’s activities revolve around consumer education, collection, sorting, recycling, and the focus, for now, is on plastics. We intend to keep our membership growing, to scale up the activities,’ she said.
Also read: Ms Pauline Goh’s presentation
Mr Ayamany A/L P Sinakalai, CEO of Jesa Enterprise Sdn Bhd, which manufacturers the brand Fallaleaf, said he was shocked by the amount of plastic waste in the environment and began to look into using palm leaves as a solution to single-use-plastic pollution. After many years of product development utilising his engineering background, Mr Ayamany has created biodegradable dishware products using palm leaves as its raw material.
Palm leaves are abundant and ubiquitous in Malaysia, and are collected when they have fallen naturally and not harvested when still green, making the process environmentally sustainable. Once cleaned with high-pressure water, the leaves are dried completely, and without any chemical additives, and heat moulds them into dishware.
‘Consumers can use the palm-leaf dishware up to 10 times before throwing it away, and they are biodegradable,’ he said.
Also read: Mr Ayamany’s presentation
Ms Wee Ching Yun, Chairman of Sustainability Sub-Committee of the Malaysia Plastic Manufacturers Association (MPMA), introduced her association, which was established in 1967. MPMA has over 700 members, representing 60% of plastics manufacturers accounting for 80% of the total plastic production of Malaysia. MPMA educates and empowers member companies with plastic knowledge, including advanced technologies for better recycling, to ensure sustainability and future growth of the plastic industry.
Using innovation to make plastic recyclable, reusable, or compostable is the objective MPMA has set for itself. To provide concrete examples, Ms Wee showcased five success stories of MPMA member companies: Daibochi Berhad switched from non-recyclable multi-material laminate packaging to fully recyclable mono-material laminate; Thong Guan Industries produced stretch films with 30% recycled content; Sekoplas Industries made its garbage bags photodegradable; Diyou Fibre produces post-consumer recyclates; and HENG HIAP INDUSTRIES is known for its Ocean Bound Plastic recycling.
‘Consumer choice is a crucially important component that pushes the industry in a sustainable direction. For that reason, awareness-raising and education will remain vital factors,’ Ms Wee said..
Also read: Ms Wee Ching Yun’s presentation
Mr Thomas Chhoa, Senior Advisor in the Office of the CEO of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), said AEPW works globally in developing practical solutions throughout the plastic value chain, from production to recycling.
Mr Chhoa noted the existing gaps in achieving plastic circularity: the design, data, alignment, quantity, quality, and affordability gaps.
‘Closing those gaps is what AEPW and its partners consider as their missions,’ he said.
Also read: Mr Thomas Chhoa’s presentation
Ms Ellen Putri Edita, Research Associate at ERIA's Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris (the Centre), said the private sector is one of the most important stakeholders in plastic waste solutions. The Centre's online Private Sector Platform showcases positive business practices in plastic waste reduction conducted by private companies in ASEAN+3.
Ms Ellen emphasised that companies need to fulfil two simple conditions to participate in the platform: business activities must be operating in the ASEAN+3 region, and the said business activities need to contribute to plastic waste reduction. She encouraged eligible private sector participants in the audience to take part in the platform, where future business opportunities may lie.
The Importance of Education
Ms Wee underscored the importance of education, especially to school-age children, when asked about the role of alliances in supporting the new National Marine Litter Policy and Action Plan 2021-2030, as it will be vital to encourage segregation at source.
Ms Goh added that education is most effective when offered to young children in their formative years, referring to Japan and Taiwan as good examples of environmental education being part of the school curriculum. MAREA would like to collaborate with the ministry of education on this, she said.
As for the challenges that small-to-medium companies like Jesa Enterprise face in developing new products, Mr Ayamany cited the lack of retailer awareness – often his palm-leaf dishware is displayed right next to the single-use plastic cutlery he aims to replace in supermarkets.
‘This is rather disappointing as we want to communicate to the consumers the added value of our products,’ he said.
Ms Wee stressed the critical role played by citizens in separating waste at source. Whether it is about recycling or composting, consumers and other actors need to fulfil their obligations.
When asked whether retailers should be obliged to use recycled material, Mr Chhoa said that for such products to be understood as genuinely eco-friendly, we must first closely examine the life cycle assessment of the products.
‘We must address the information gaps in alignment, affordability, and quality to ensure we are communicating the correct information and create incentives,’ he said.
Mr Michikazu Kojima, the Centre Team Leader, expressed his sincere thanks to all participants for their valuable contributions. The event discussed a wide range of topics, such as voluntary EPR, alternative materials to plastic, recycling and segregation at source, education, and awareness-raising, and many ways to achieve plastic circularity.
‘I hope that the event was inspiring and beneficial in further propelling the discussion on reducing marine plastic debris in the region,’ he said.
Communication Desk
