28 August 2019, Bangkok, Thailand – Global companies from across the value chain, including chemical and plastic manufacturers, have held the first Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW) forum in South-East Asia.

The forum introduced the Alliance, a global non-profit organisation aiming to end plastic waste in the environment, especially in the ocean, to Southeast Asia and Thailand.

The Alliance represents 40 companies that are headquartered in North and South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Many of these companies have significant operations in Southeast Asia, including Thailand.

The Alliance has committed almost US$1 billion (Bt30 billion) in funds, with the goal of investing $1.5 billion over the next five years to develop solutions that will minimise and manage plastic waste and promote post-use solutions. Alliance efforts will focus many of its efforts in Southeast Asia, where the need is greatest.

Thailand is taking a proactive approach, such as the government’s Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management for 2018 – 2030. By the end of 2022 Thailand aims to be free of plastic bags less than 36 microns thick, Styrofoam food boxes, plastic straws, and single-use plastic cups. The goal is to reduce Thailand’s plastic ocean waste at least 50 per cent by 2027.

Thailand Public Private Partnership for Plastic and Waste Management (Thailand PPP Plastic) is an unprecedented collaboration between 15 organisations from the government sector, private sector, and non-profit organisations that on June 5, 2018 signed an MOU to address Thailand plastic marine debris.

SEA circular is working with the Government of Thailand to promote enabling policies to reduce plastic waste, and supporting private sector initiatives to build more circular economy initiatives into the supply chain.