Asia's Plastic Pollution to Surge 70% by 2050: OECD Report

Southeast Asia and East Asian Nations Face Growing Plastic Pollution Crisis
Plastic waste leakage into the environment in Southeast Asian countries, along with China, Japan, and South Korea, is projected to rise by nearly 70 percent by 2050 if no effective measures are taken to address the issue. This alarming trend was highlighted in a recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which identified the region as a "hotspot for plastic pollution."
In 2022, an estimated 8.4 million tons of plastic waste leaked into the environment in this region. The OECD's Regional Plastics Outlook report emphasized that informal and unsafe practices such as open burning and dumping continue to be prevalent, particularly in rural areas across ASEAN countries and China. These practices contribute significantly to environmental degradation and public health risks.
Plastic waste has become a major global environmental concern, contaminating rivers, oceans, and ecosystems. It poses serious threats to wildlife and human health, as microplastics enter the body through various pathways. The OECD estimates that by 2050, annual plastic leakage could reach 14.1 million tons in the region, with 5.1 million tons potentially reaching rivers, coastal areas, and oceans.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that plastic use in the 13 countries has increased almost ninefold since 1990, rising from 17 million tons to 152 million tons in 2022. More than half of this plastic is used for short-lived applications, such as packaging. Given that over half of the plastic used in the region has a lifespan of less than five years, much of it quickly becomes waste. In fact, regional plastic waste has grown from 10 million tons in 1990 to 113 million tons in 2022.
Despite these challenges, the OECD suggests that ambitious actions could significantly reduce plastic pollution. Implementing bans on single-use plastics, introducing taxes, and promoting recycling initiatives could cut plastic use in the region by 28 percent, increase the recycling rate to 54 percent, and reduce mismanaged waste by 97 percent.
However, many countries in the region still lack adequate waste management systems. There is a wide disparity in capabilities among nations, and measures to curb plastic demand remain underutilized in most cases. Rapid population growth and urbanization have further fueled the surge in plastic consumption, making the problem even more complex.
Efforts to address this crisis are ongoing. International discussions on a legally binding treaty to combat plastic pollution resumed in Geneva, following the previous talks in Busan, South Korea, which ended without agreement. Countries remain divided over measures to control plastic production and manage waste effectively.
As the global community grapples with the growing threat of plastic pollution, the need for coordinated and comprehensive strategies has never been more urgent. The OECD report serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of inaction and highlights the importance of implementing sustainable solutions to protect both the environment and public health.
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