SEA circular project
Solving Plastic Pollution at Source
Newsletter - November 2024
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Welcome to the November edition of the SEA circular newsletter! The past few months have been a dynamic journey in our fight against plastic pollution across Southeast Asia. At the heart of it all was SEA of Solutions 2024-a powerful gathering where regional leaders, innovators, and changemakers came together to unite in the fight against plastic waste. In addition to SEA of Solutions, we also organized several other key initiatives, from capacity-building sessions on sustainable packaging to regional trainings on marine litter monitoring, all aimed at advancing our collective efforts to solve plastic pollution at its source. Together, these efforts are not just steps forward—they are laying the foundation towards a cleaner and sustainable future.
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Key Highlights
- Catalyzing Regional Actions: SEA of Solutions 2024 Celebrates Partnerships for a Plastic Waste-free Future
- Driving Impact in Sustainable Packaging: Building Regional Capacity for Effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and a Just Transition
- Enhancing Data Comparability and Data Analysis for Effective Marine Litter Monitoring in East Asian Seas Region
- Uniting Forces: SEA circular & GPAP Drive Regional Momentum to Tackle Plastic Pollution
- Bridging Rights and Responsibilities: Tackling Plastic Pollution Together with the Informal Sector
- 26th Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM-26) of Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA): Empowering Regional Collaboration
- Advancing Marine Litter Solutions: Strengthening National Capacity on Survey Sampling of Plastic Waste in Malaysia
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Collaboration in action at SEA of Solutions 2024
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Catalyzing Regional Actions: SEA of Solutions 2024 Celebrates Partnerships for a Plastic Waste-free Future
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SEA of Solutions 2024 held from September 18-20 at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok and supported by UNEP and the Government of Sweden, united over 600 participants from 76 countries in a landmark effort to combat plastic pollution in Southeast Asia. Under the theme "Delivering Actions to End Plastic Pollution," the event fostered collaboration among governments, businesses, civil society, and intergovernmental organizations.
Featuring 70 expert speakers, the event included 7 plenary sessions, 8 knowledge sessions, and 23 exhibitors, covering topics like circularity, community engagement, and innovative financing. Field visits showcased real-world plastic recycling and community-driven initiatives, providing participants with practical insights.
The event underscored the urgency of establishing stronger legislative frameworks at national level, particularly through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations, which hold producers accountable for plastic waste pollution; innovative financing models as a key enabler for regional plastic pollution initiatives, providing businesses and local communities with resources to scale solutions that tackle pollution at its source; and comprehensive change must span the entire plastic lifecycle, requiring a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach that is inclusive of communities and resilient across diverse sectors - driving long-term regional impact.
The momentum generated by SEA of Solutions 2024 is set to have lasting effects in the region. Resources including the session recordings, presentations, and an extensive photo gallery are now available, providing a foundation for continued engagement and capacity-building across Southeast Asia and beyond.
SEA of Solutions 2024 highlighted the power of coordinated, region-wide efforts in combating plastic pollution, demonstrating the potential of collaborative platforms to drive sustainable change.
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Experts from 14 ASEAN countries come together for the EPR capacity-building session on sustainable packaging
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Driving Impact in Sustainable Packaging: Building Regional Capacity for Effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and a Just Transition
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On September 17, we organized a capacity-building session on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), bringing together 39 participants from 14 ASEAN countries, including Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), government officials, and the informal sector. The session explored key areas such as EPR policy development, the role of Producer Responsibility Organizations, and the just transition for informal waste workers. By focusing on practical strategies for managing packaging waste, this initiative strengthens the region’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote sustainability.
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Participants at the Regional Training on Marine Litter Monitoring
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Enhancing Data Comparability and Data Analysis for Effective Marine Litter Monitoring in East Asian Seas Region
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The "Regional Training on Marine Litter Monitoring: Advancing Data Analysis" took place from September 15-17, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand, gathering representatives from COBSEA member countries. This training was designed to boost regional capabilities in marine litter data collection and analysis, equipping participants from the East Asian Seas region with critical skills to tackle marine plastic pollution. Supported by the SEA circular and MA-RE Design Projects, the event included hands-on exercises and collaborative case study discussions, emphasizing the need for standardized data collection and sharing. By enhancing skills in harmonized methodologies, the training directly supports RAP MALI’s goal of fostering a coordinated regional response to reduce plastic waste and pollution. goal of fostering a coordinated regional response to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
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Stakeholders unite at the GPAP Community Breakfast
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Uniting Forces: SEA circular & GPAP Drive Regional Momentum to Tackle Plastic Pollution
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On September 19, SEA circular and the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) joined forces to host a Community Breakfast at SEA of Solutions 2024 in Bangkok. Under the theme "Leading the Change: Collaborating Towards Ending Plastic Pollution in Asia," this gathering brought together government officials, private sector leaders, and key stakeholders, enhancing collaboration to combat plastic pollution across Southeast Asia.
Key takeaways from this impactful event include:
This collaboration aligns with global momentum toward a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty and underscores the urgency of regional cooperation in effective EPR schemes, funding mechanisms, and circular design to tackle plastic pollution at its source.
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Participants engage in discussions on empowering informal waste workers in EPR schemes at the UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum
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Bridging Rights and Responsibilities: Tackling Plastic Pollution Together with the Informal Sector
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At the UN Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum, Asia Pacific, UNEP's SEA circular project hosted the session, "Bridging Rights and Responsibilities: Tackling Plastic Pollution Together with the Informal Sector," highlighting the critical role of informal waste workers in sustainable waste management. The session gathered 200 participants to discuss how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes can include waste pickers and SMEs, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes. Key takeaways emphasized the integration of human rights into business strategies and the importance of empowering informal workers to contribute to both upstream and downstream plastic waste solutions.
For more insights and key outcomes, click here.
Watch events highlights click here.
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COBSEA IGM-26 in Siem Reap to enhance regional collaboration for sustainable marine environments
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26th Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM-26) of Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA): Empowering Regional Collaboration
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The Secretariat of the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment hosted the Twenty-sixth Intergovernmental Meeting (IGM-26) from 23 to 25 October 2024 in Siem Reap, Cambodia. This event included the Sixth Meeting of the Working Group on Marine Litter (WGML-6) held on 21-22 October.
The SEA circular project plays a crucial role in achieving RAP-MALI objectives through the development of harmonized methodologies for marine litter monitoring, enhancing regional capacities, and promoting collaboration among member countries to align national action plans with regional goals.
IGM-26 highlighted the commitment of COBSEA countries, to advancing sustainable marine and coastal environments across the East Asian Seas.
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Participants conduct hands-on marine litter monitoring and survey sampling in Malaysia to enhance plastic waste management
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Advancing Marine Litter Solutions: Strengthening National Capacity on Survey Sampling of Plastic Waste in Malaysia
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As part of the SEA circular project, COBSEA co-organized a training session on marine litter monitoring in collaboration with Malaysia's Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), the Marine Institute of Malaysia (MIMA), and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) from 21-26 April. Led by CSIRO and hosted by the University of Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), the training included practical inland, river, coastal, and trawling survey sampling of plastic waste. This training and subsequent surveys aim to enhance harmonized monitoring and build capacity within the COBSEA region.
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Photo Credits: United Nations Environment Programme
About SEA circular Project
The SEA circular project – Reducing marine litter by addressing the management of the plastic value chain in Southeast Asia is implemented by the UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), with funding support from the Government of Sweden. SEA circular aims to reduce and prevent plastic pollution and its impact by working with governments, businesses, civil society, academia, and international partners. The initiative promotes market-based solutions and enabling policies to transform plastic value-chain management, strengthens the science base for informed decision making, creates outreach and awareness. The project leverages COBSEA's regional mechanism to tackle the transboundary challenge of marine litter in a harmonized manner.
Contact Us
Website: www.sea-circular.org
Email: sea-circular@un.org
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