Knowledge Hub

SEA of Solutions (SoS) is the annual partnership event dedicated to tackling plastic pollution at source, led by SEA circular, an initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), with support from the Government of Sweden. Since 2019, SoS has served as a platform, which fosters sharing of information, best practices, meaningful dialogue, collaboration and partnership opportunities in promoting circularity in the plastic value chain among stakeholders in Southeast Asia. Held on 18-20 September 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand, SEA of Solutions 2024 convened leaders and innovators from various sectors under the theme “Delivering Actions to End Plastic Pollution.” Participants from across the globe—including intergovernmental bodies, bilateral and multilateral organizations, civil society, policymakers, and research sectors—came together to explore recent advancements, reinforce partnerships, and identify strategies to scale up solutions. Sessions focused on science-based action, policy development, financing, circularity, and community engagement.

This resource deck contains a range of knowledge products and solutions for addressing plastic pollution in South-East Asia that have been generated as part of the SEA circular project – Reducing Marine Litter by Addressing the Management of the Plastic Value Chain in South-East Asia. It contains 18 research and assessment reports; 23 inspiring case studies; 21 practical tools and manuals; 6 project country profiles; and 14 videos.

Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is believed to be the world’s second-largest contributor of plastic pollutants in the oceans, after China.  Home about 267 million people, strong economic growth and an expanding middle class is driving the consumption of more and more products often containing, or wrapped in, some sort of plastic. Indonesia is currently estimated to produce more than 190,000 tons of waste each day, the majority (around 57 percent) of which is organic waste. Plastic is estimated to contribute around 25,000 tons per day to total waste, of which – at least – 20% is believed to end up in rivers and coastal waters.

The National Source Inventory (NSI) report is intended to collect available data in Cambodia on plastic products lifecycle and flows, waste generation, composition and disposal flows, and results arising from monitoring of freshwater and wastewater, coastal and marine environments. The main goal is to provide a basis for identification...

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) partnered with UN-Habitat under the SEA circular project to apply the Waste Wise CitiesTool (WaCT) and Waste Flow Diagram (WFD) in South-East Asia. WaCT guides cities and local governments through the steps to assess the environmental performance of a Municipal Solid Waste Management system, food waste generation and resource…

In the rapidly urbanizing world, the crisis in waste management and plastic pollution is a reflection of current unsustainable lifestyles. The availability of fact-based data on municipal solid waste can guide evidence-based planning and lead to increasingly effective and efficient solid waste collection systems, enhanced local resource recovery and controlled waste disposal, thereby improving the quality of life for urban residents.

In the rapidly urbanizing world, the crisis in waste management and plastic pollution is a reflection of current unsustainable lifestyles. The availability of fact-based data on municipal solid waste can guide evidence-based planning and lead to increasingly effective and efficient solid waste collection systems, enhanced local resource recovery and controlled waste disposal, thereby improving the quality of life for urban residents.

In the rapidly urbanizing world, the crisis in waste management and plastic pollution is a reflection of current unsustainable lifestyles. The availability of fact-based data on municipal solid waste can guide evidence-based planning and lead to increasingly effective and efficient solid waste collection systems, enhanced local resource recovery and controlled waste disposal, thereby improving the quality of life for urban residents.

In the rapidly urbanizing world, the crisis in waste management and plastic pollution is a reflection of current unsustainable lifestyles. The availability of fact-based data on municipal solid waste can guide evidence-based planning and lead to increasingly effective and efficient solid waste collection systems, enhanced local resource recovery and controlled waste disposal, thereby improving the quality of life for urban residents...

Sihanoukville has grown rapidly along with the developments of Sea Ports, Special Economic Zone, Tourism, International Airport and Coal Power Plants while the city has also faced environmental issues such as improper municipal solid waste management.

Kep city has the great potential for eco-tourism while the inadequate solid waste management is part of the underlying vulnerability to environmental hazards such as flooding and the damage of the terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

This report seeks to provide a picture of the current plastic credits mechanism as well as recommendations for it to be an effective tool in supporting plastic circularity – by increasing the amount of plastic waste that is recycled and reducing the amount that enters the waste stream. Plastic credits are financial-institutional instruments that incentivise recovery or dis-incentivise pollution and pay for offsetting its impacts.

This report is aimed at compiling existing knowledge about plastic credits in order to support the path towards a harmonised standard for plastic credits, flag up potential problems, learn from comparable credits markets and explore how a plastic credits system may be established in order to fulfil its core objectives. It takes a holistic view of the most important stakeholders involved in the value chain and analyses which players could benefit from a harmonised system.

The Marine Litter Monitoring Methods Handbook provides information to participants in COBSEA participating countries about the different monitoring approaches that are taken in international marine litter monitoring programmes. The objective of this handbook is to provide a menu of options that have been rolled out at national and multinational/regional scales to monitor marine litter, to provide guidance on best practices in marine litter monitoring approaches for regional-scale marine litter monitoring. Part II of the handbook provides guidance on preparation and application of marine litter monitoring survey methods including on coastlines, inland, at rivers, and sea surface.

The Marine Debris Monitoring Methods Handbook, Part 1 (this handbook) seeks to provide information to participants in COBSEA participating countries about the different monitoring approaches that are taken in international marine litter monitoring programs. The objective of this handbook is to provide a menu of options that have been rolled out at national and multinational/regional scales to monitor marine litter, to provide guidance on best-practice in marine litter monitoring approaches for regional-scale marine litter monitoring.

This study aims to bridge existing research gaps and bring to light a better understanding of the potential risks and opportunities associated with the introduction of plastic credits to the informal waste management sector in South-East Asia. The study’s regional focus is constituted namely by Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

This study aims to bridge existing research gaps and bring to light a better understanding of the potential risks and opportunities associated with the introduction of plastic credits to the informal waste management sector in South-East Asia. The study’s regional focus is constituted namely by Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

This case study demonstrates market-based solutions towards “less plastic wasted”, exemplary solutions for transformational changes in the way plastic is managed in the value supply chain. Circular Economy approaches, including business incentives for plastic reduction...

This report was developed as part of SEA circular – Reducing marine litter by addressing the management of the plastic value chain in South-East Asia’ a project jointly implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), with funding from the...

Mismanaged plastic waste continues to pose a challenge in developing countries such as the Philippines. The mismanagement of plastic waste is also the result of the limited recycling infrastructure available to support higher levels of plastic waste in the country. In terms of policy and governance, the country has a solid waste management...

This good practice case study is part of a series of knowledge products developed by the SEA circular project to showcase exemplary market-based solutions that bring about transformational changes in the way plastic is managed in the value chain. Only about nine per cent of this plastic waste being produced globally ends up being...

This good practice case study is part of a series of knowledge products developed by the SEA circular project to showcase exemplary market-based solutions that bring about transformational changes in the way plastic is managed in the value chain. The Philippines is the third largest contributor of plastic pollution, with an estimated 0.75...

This good practice case study is part of a series of knowledge products developed by the SEA circular project to showcase exemplary market-based solutions that bring about transformational changes in the way plastic is managed in the value chain. One of the countries challenged by marine plastic litter is Thailand – the sixth biggest contributor of marine plastic litter worldwide. Thailand is challenged by its low rate of...

This Checklist illustrates practical steps that state or government institutions and officials can take to implement a human rights-based approach to the plastics pollution challenge...

This Checklist illustrates practical steps that civil society members can take to advocate for a human rights-based approach to the plastics pollution challenge...