In this special edition of Planetary Health Matters, Wong Pui Yi and Hema Sulakshana Mahadevan join columnist Dr Jemilah Mahmood to persuade Malaysian ministers and negotiators at the Global Plastics Treaty to seize the moment and shape an agreement that could transform our planet’s future.
AS proud Malaysians, we are deeply concerned about the final round of negotiations for the Global Plastics Treaty in Busan, South Korea, that are currently ongoing until Dec 1. The decisions made in Busan will not only shape our future relationship with plastics, but also determine the trajectory of planetary health.
The facts are stark. Plastic production more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, growing from 234 million tonnes to 460 million tonnes. If current trends continue, we could see production balloon to 736 million tonnes by 2040.
This exponential growth is already overwhelming waste management systems and wreaking havoc on ecosystems. What we see today – plastics choking our rivers, polluting our oceans, killing our reefs, and entering our food chain and bodies – is just the beginning. Without commitments to reduce production, the problem will worsen dramatically, and no amount of recycling or waste management will be able to cope.
The global plastic crisis is not simply a matter of waste management; it is fundamentally an issue of overproduction. Governments worldwide are already allocating billions of dollars to manage plastic waste, a figure that will continue to balloon unless we address unchecked production at its source. Focusing solely on waste management is akin to mopping up while leaving the tap running. The real solution lies in curbing plastics production, not merely dealing with its aftermath.
Malaysia must take a proactive stance on this issue. As plastics production spirals out of control, incremental improvements in waste management will not be enough to address the scale of the problem.
The focus must shift towards limiting production, not just improving disposal practices. This approach is essential not only for Malaysia’s domestic wellbeing but also for our role as a responsible member of the global community. By addressing overproduction, we can mitigate the environmental and economic costs of this escalating crisis.
Malaysia has a long-standing reputation for taking bold, forward-thinking stances on environmental issues. We have often been a leader among developing nations, pushing for more ambitious international agreements that serve not just our interests but the global good. In the plastics arena, we were once strong advocates for reducing harmful plastic production and tackling pollution across the full lifecycle of plastics – from creation to disposal.
However, at the most recent Plastics Treaty negotiations in Ottawa in April, Malaysia in its written submission proposed “Option 0” regarding “Primary Plastic Polymers”. This position sought to remove obligations related to control measures on the production of plastic materials from the treaty, which was a major setback.
“Option 0” sidelines the core issue of plastics polymer production – the building blocks of all plastics – by removing them from the treaty’s framework. This weakens the treaty’s ambition and aligns Malaysia with countries advocating to dilute its effectiveness.
We are deeply troubled by this shift. Malaysia is known for doing what is right, not what is convenient. By supporting “Option 0”, we risk undermining a treaty pivotal in saving our planet from plastics pollution. We cannot remain silent in the face of this.
Malaysia must act decisively. We join the call for our leaders to instruct negotiators to reaffirm our commitment to addressing plastics pollution across its entire lifecycle, starting from production. This means advocating for global reduction targets for virgin plastics production, phasing out harmful chemicals, and embracing innovative reuse and refill practices. Without these steps, efforts to manage plastics waste will be in vain, and future generations will bear the brunt of our inaction.
Beyond the negotiations in Busan, it’s equally important to support Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), ensuring companies take responsibility for the waste their products create, and redesign them to ensure longevity and durability.
EPR will help reduce plastics pollution and promote better resource use. Plastic is not only an environmental burden but also a health risk. Plastics contain toxins. We must advocate for a hazard-based approach in the treaty, ensuring toxic chemicals are phased out entirely. The presence of microplastics in our bloodstreams, organs, and ecosystems is a manifestation of this toxicity, a silent but escalating threat to global health.
Moreover, Malaysia has a unique responsibility to address the global plastics waste trade. After China banned solid waste imports, our country became a top destination for plastics waste. This influx has overwhelmed domestic waste management systems, leading to illegal dumping, environmental damage, and serious health risks, particularly for poorer communities. The treaty negotiations in Busan offer Malaysia the opportunity to push for stronger regulations on the transboundary movement of plastics waste and ensure our country does not become a dumping ground for the world’s rubbish.
At this critical juncture, Malaysia has the chance to lead once again. We must push for a treaty that prioritises reducing plastic production, phasing out hazardous chemicals, and fostering circular systems that emphasise reuse and repurposing.
Agreeing on robust regulations that eliminate the intentional use of microplastics in products, address microplastic pollution, and phase out of single-use plastics is an essential element of the treaty. Each year, thousands of non-essential plastic products flood the market, designed for single use and destined for landfills. Our consumption patterns must shift towards a circular economy that values durability and safer alternatives.
Malaysia Madani must lead on sustainability. We now have an opportunity: Will we step up on the global stage by proposing innovative policies and business development, or will we retreat into inaction? Are we to be cowed by low-ambition parties, including fossil fuel giants, who are driving the dilution of this treaty’s ambitions rather than embracing the chance to innovate and pivot towards the future?
Our government, ministers, and negotiators have the power to shape a treaty that could transform our planet’s future – and they must seize this moment. Let us champion a future free from plastics pollution and ensure history remembers the moment when Malaysia led with courage and vision.
The success of the Global Plastics Treaty hinges on a comprehensive approach that addresses plastics throughout their lifecycle. The choices made in Busan will determine whether we leave a legacy of plastics pollution or one of sustainability and health.
The column’s guest writers are Wong Pui Yi, a research consultant for the Basel Action Net-work; and Hema Sulakshana Mahadevan, public engagement campaigner, Greenpeace Malaysia. Dr Jemilah Mahmood, a physician and experienced crisis leader, is the executive director of the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health at Sunway University. She is the founder of Mercy Malaysia and has served in leadership roles internationally with the United Nations and Red Cross for the last decade. She writes on Planetary Health Matters once a month in Ecowatch.
The views expressed here are entirely the writers’ own.
