8 June 2020, Bangkok, Thailand: World Oceans Day 2020 is focusing on ‘Innovation for a sustainable ocean’. SEA circular joins this global movement today, looking at how data, technology,  market-driven solutions, and scientific research can support more sustainable oceans, and reduce marine plastic pollution.

SEA circular is working to solve plastic pollution at source, targeting the upstream drivers of marine plastic litter, seeking market-based solutions and promoting enabling policies towards a more sustainable ocean environment in South-East Asia. 

This region is at the heart of the global marine plastic pollution challenge. It is estimated that five Asian countries – China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam – may account for up to 60 percent of the plastic waste leaking into the Pacific Ocean.

Data, information, and a real understanding scale of the problem of marine plastic pollution faced by consumers and businesses, are crucial first steps to tackle marine plastic waste.

With this in mind, SEA circular has conducted innovative research from Jan-April 2020, together with Food Industry Asia (FIA) targeting consumers and food and beverage businesses, in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam. The goal was to assess consumer awareness and business incentives around usage and wastage of plastics.

The resulting report is set to be launched later this month. Analysis indicates that these South-East Asian countries are seeking innovations from governments, businesses and citizens, to tackle the plastic pollution crisis in the marine environment of the region.

SEA circular has also recently published a series of Country Reports, compiling and analysing data from nine countries in South-East Asia, and provided in-depth analysis, to understand more about the drivers and actions around plastic wastage and leakage in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

This SEA circular series outline issues of environmental and biodiversity threats, waste management, leakage throughout the plastic value chain, as well as the policy framework to tackle the issue. Data on components and amounts of  plastics collected at coastal clean-ups are compiled – to understand more about the causes and impacts of marine litter at a national level.

SEA circular is also working in partnership with South-East Asian organisations and the private sector, to promote more sustainable production and consumption and associated technological developments, to respond to and address the marine plastic pollution crisis.

At SEA of Solutions 2019, SEA circular welcomed scientists and entrepreneurs, to showcase innovations in research, new technologies and circular business.

SEA circular is also conducting a series of virtual e-Roundtables, bringing together  private sector professionals in a joint effort to explore synergies and innovations to tackle the regional marine litter problem together.

The first e-Roundtable focused on the hotel industry and hospitality sector – where plastics are ubiquitous. SEA circular is working to promote innovations towards sustainability through supporting hotels in South-East Asia which are pioneering the field in the drive towards less plastic wasted. Through the SEA circular project, UNEP is working to ensure that the best practices and learnings from these enterprises serve to drive regional industry standards towards less plastic wasted. 

SEA circular is working at the nexus of innovation with businesses, communities, scientists and governments, towards a more sustainable and plastic free ocean. We invite you to join us in celebrating World Oceans Day 2020 and acknowledge our collective duty to protect the marine environment.

UN World Oceans Day 2020 website

View selected World Oceans Day 2020 related events on the marine environment, plastic pollution and waste management

THE OFFICIAL UNITED NATIONS WORLD OCEANS DAY 2020 VIRTUAL EVENT
Innovation for a Sustainable Ocean
Mon 8 June 2020
10am – 5pm EDT

UN World Oceans Day 2020 VIRTUAL EVENT

UN World Oceans Day Global Events
Mon 8 June

UN World Oceans Day 2020 GLOBAL EVENTS

UN World Oceans Day: Real solutions for ocean plastic
Mon 8 June 6pm SGT

Webinar: Real solutions for ocean plastic

New Solutions to Plastic Pollution
Mon 8 June 12:00am – 1:30am (+07)
Host: The Natural History Museum & the Voice for Nature Foundation

WEBINAR: NEW SOLUTIONS TO PLASTIC POLLUTION 

Launch of The State of the World Fisheries and Aquaculture
Mon 8 June 6:00pm – 7:30pm (+07)
Host: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

LAUNCH: STATE OF THE WORLD FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE

Act #ForNature Forum – Turning the Tide on Marine Plastics: How UNEA-5 can be a turning point (Open meeting)
Mon 8 Jun 9:00pm – 11:00pm (+07)
Host : UNEP

ACT #FORNATURE FORUM

Bootcamp – Learn how to fight plastic pollution and become an Ocean Hero!
Fri 26 June – Sun 12 July (+07)
#oceanheroes
Host: Ocean Heroes Bootcamp (OHBC)

BOOTCAMP: FIGHT PLASTIC POLLUTION 

The United Nations celebrates World Oceans Day every year on 8 June. Many countries have celebrated this special day since 1992, following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, as of 2009, 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day”. Every 8 June, we have an opportunity to raise global awareness of the benefits humankind derives from the ocean and our individual and collective duty to use its resources sustainably.