We were commissioned by Coca-Cola to analyse the status quo of PET bottle collection for recycling across six countries in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and Malaysia). Five of the six countries studied are among the top ten global contributors to ocean plastic leakage. The report provided, for the first time, systematic and comparable baseline collection rates for PET bottles in Southeast Asia and highlighted the need for a fundamental shift in the approach to driving circularity.
“The report delivers a first-of-its-kind analysis of collection-for-recycling rates for PET plastic in key ASEAN cities and frames up a circular economy roadmap for post-consumer PET plastic packaging specifically tailored for the region, with a concrete set of recommendations geared towards interventions with the highest impact. At Coca-Cola, we are committed to executing these recommendations with our partners, and we have already begun to move in earnest. It is our hope that this report also helps to drive broader understanding, coordination and momentum in our shared efforts to tackle marine plastic pollution in Southeast Asia and globally”
– Michael Goltzman, Vice President of Global Policy and Sustainability at The Coca-Cola Company.
In collaboration with the UN Environment Programme, GA Circular worked on a report, titled ‘The Role of Packaging Regulations and Standards in Driving the Circular Economy’. This study reviews the regulatory landscape in each of the ten ASEAN countries when compared against the backdrop of global best practices and the national and local efforts to address the issue of packaging
It also explores the role that policy interventions can play in addressing the growing environmental challenges posed by packaging and packaging waste.
Amcor, among the top five largest packaging companies in the world by revenue, is mostly involved in flexible and rigid plastic packaging for the food and beverage sector. In 2016, it had a revenue of USD 9.4 billion, 68% of which came from flexible packaging. We were commissioned by them to analyse the challenges and opportunities for collection and circularity of post-consumer flexible packaging in Asia. The report:
“The report revealed that greater interventions are required to address increasing post-consumer flexible packaging waste in Asia… effort must include a multi-stakeholder approach including participation from local government, embrace source segregation, support material recovery facilities and, ensure a financially viable end solution” Packaging Business Review
Ocean Conservancy works together with their partners to protect the ocean from today’s greatest global challenges. For more than 40 years, Ocean Conservancy has championed science-based solutions to protect ocean ecosystems. Their work guides policy and engages people in protecting the ocean, its wildlife, and communities that depend on it.
This report has been produced through funding from the Global Environment Facility as part of the project “Addressing Marine Plastics—A Systemic Approach” that is implemented by UN Environment in partnership with Ocean Conservancy, the New Plastics Economy Initiative of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and GRID Arendal (GEF Project ID No. 9681).