Regional Dialogue on Plastic Credits – A Circular Solution for Plastic Waste Management

Event Date: 28 September 2022, 14:00 – 16:00 (GMT +7)

Event Location: Bangkok

Event Overview: According to estimates of UNEP, over 3 billion people do not have access to proper waste management services . Especially in low-income countries, the collection of recyclables depends almost entirely on the informal sector. Informal waste workers are amongst society’s most marginalized groups with no recognition of their essential services, often being deprived access to sustainable income sources and basic social services.

The plastic waste crisis that we are facing is real – in January 2022, a study published in Environmental Science suggested that we are currently operating outside the planetary boundary in terms of plastic production and pollution (summarized as “novel entities”). The lack of proper management of waste has also led to an annual accumulation of up to 12 million metric tonnes of plastic waste leaked into our oceans and rivers. This amounts to 86% of plastic waste that could otherwise be collected, sorted and recycled back into a circular economy. While systemic approaches for plastic circularity and closing gaps in waste management infrastructure may take time to be in place, short-term solutions may alleviate the symptoms but may bring about new challenges and possibly overlook root causes to the problem.

One emerging model that could bring multiple co-benefits to the environment (reduction in plastic waste leaked into the rivers and oceans by increasing sorting and collection) and social development of marginalized group (the informal waste pickers) is plastic credit. Plastic credit mechanisms are evolving rapidly and seen as a means to support collection of both recyclable and non-recyclable plastics, bridging the gaps in formal waste management infrastructure. It enables the informal sector in the waste management system to engage in plastic waste markets and its value-chain. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a plastic credit is a transferable unit representing a specific quantity of plastic that has been collected and possibly recycled from the environment. Plastic credit is seen to serve as the vehicle for interaction between businesses and informal waste workers.

The evolving plastic credits space is however not well understood by all and therefore a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of plastic credits in its current form can help build confidence, transparency, and a level playing field that ensures the informal waste collectors are also fairly rewarded for their efforts. Meanwhile, many see plastic credits as an instrument that should only be used by producers as part of efforts to achieve extended producer responsibility after other solutions have been applied.

Understanding of plastic credit concepts and market mechanisms will support the development of a pathway towards a harmonized standard for plastic credits. This regional dialogue aims to explore the views of key players and stakeholders on how plastic credits can support plastic circularity in the region. It aims to inform practitioners and stakeholders on what is required to support a fair and level playing field for plastic credits, to achieve a harmonized operational framework. Prior to the panel discussion, participants of this event will be informed by insights gained from two research projects supported by the SEA circular project. The first study conducted by the International Solid Waste Association assessed the contribution of plastic credit schemes to reducing plastics pollution and improving recycling, the second study carried out by Yunus Environment Hub focused on risks and opportunities of plastic credit financing instruments being introduced into the informal waste management sector.

To learn more about the event, please click here.