More than 460 million metric tonnes (MMT) of plastics are produced each year, with an estimated 20 MMT of plastic litter polluting ecosystems and posing detrimental threats to biodiversity, public health, livelihoods and economies. This condition underscores the urgent need for transformative actions to reduce plastic pollution. 

Multistakeholder partnerships are central to responding to this pressing agenda, as plastic pollution is a multi-layered issue demanding diverse expertise and resources. While the first international legally binding instrument (ILBI) to combat plastic pollution is currently being developed at the global stage, countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have proactively joined hands to tackle the issue of plastic pollution. Aligned with this vision, the ASEAN Conference on Combating Plastic Pollution (ACCPP) 2024 was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR on 28–29 October 2024, as a continuation of ACCPP 2023. The second iteration of this regional conference focused on strengthening multistakeholder partnerships under the theme, ‘Action, Innovation and Partnership to Phase Out Plastic Pollution’.

This report captures the prominent insights and outcomes of ACCPP 2024, providing actionable recommendations to advance toward a plastic economy that minimises waste, maximises resource efficiency, and fosters regional collaboration.