Plastic Waste Trade
Every year, tonnes of plastic waste, often mislabelled as “recyclables,” are shipped from wealthier nations to countries like Malaysia. In fact, since 2018, Malaysia became one of the world’s top destinations for plastic waste imports.
Greenpeace Malaysia began investigating this growing crisis early on and red-flagged it to the world, exposing illegal shipments, naming polluters, and supporting local communities fighting back.
Our Approach
What really happens to plastic waste once we throw it away? As Malaysia became a dumping ground for the world’s trash, we set out to expose the truth, protect our communities, and demand global accountability.
Investigate and expose
We uncover the truth behind plastic waste shipments through on-the-ground investigations, data reporting, and visual storytelling
Mobilise and empower
We work alongside impacted communities, activists, and allies to take action, protest, and demand accountability from polluters and decision-makers.
Advocate and influence
We push for strong policy change at local and global levels, including media engagement and coalition-building, to ban plastic waste trade.
Our Projects
We didn’t just expose a problem — we sparked a movement. Here’s how we turned local outrage into global pressure.
Waste site investigations
We visited illegal and polluting plastic waste sites across Malaysia. Our investigations weren’t just about documenting waste, they exposed the human cost behind the global recycling lie. We published two reports, The Recycling Myth and The Recycling Myth 2.0, revealing the scale of environmental injustice and the broken system enabling it.
Global & regional advocacy
From ASEAN dialogues to local and international media, we pushed for bans on plastic waste trade. We worked across borders to make this a regional fight, amplifying stories from Malaysia and beyond to shape policies that protect people, not polluters.
Field documentary
We captured on-the-ground realities through film to expose the broken global system of recycling, and how Malaysia has become a dumping ground for the unwanted trash of 19 other countries. Watch the film
Rally against polluters
We joined hands with local communities, activists, and allies to organise nonviolent protests and actions, demanding accountability from plastic waste exporters and the local policymakers enabling this toxic trade.
Mentioned in Media
Our campaign has been featured in national and international media, amplifying the call to end plastic waste trade and hold polluters accountable.
How You Can Help
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Climate & PollutionLet’s end the age of plastic!
We have a rare chance to turn the tide on plastic. Add your name before the final Global Plastics Treaty talks this August.
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Community & ActivismEvery donation counts.
We can’t do this without your help. Take action for environment protection, please make a donation today.
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Greenpeace study finds microplastics in Nestlé, Danone baby food sold in plastic pouches, raising alarm for millions of babies
The report, Tiny Plastics, Big Problem: The Hidden Risks of Plastic Pouches for Baby Food, detailed the laboratory testing of popular baby food brands, Nestlé’s Gerber and Danone’s Happy Baby Organics, where microplastic particles were found in every sample analysed
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Tiny Plastics, Big Problem
Emerging evidence raises concerns that big food brands are feeding our children plastic pollution with unknown consequences, by selling baby food in flexible plastic packaging
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ASEAN leaders cannot claim climate leadership while silencing peaceful protest
While ASEAN leaders spoke of sustainability and regional resilience at opening day of the summit, peaceful Greenpeace activists outside the venue calling for solutions and urgent action were taken into police custody.
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Greenpeace challenges the 48th ASEAN Summit
Greenpeace Philippines activists held a peaceful protest on the opening day of the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
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Escalated living costs of plastics
The war in West Asia did not create our vulnerability to oil & gas price shocks; it merely exposed the one we built, barrel by barrel, and plastic bottle by plastic bottle.
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Together we are part of a growing, global movement determined to bring about the changes our planet desperately needs.