{"id":62244,"date":"2025-08-13T13:06:19","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T05:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/malaysia\/?page_id=62244"},"modified":"2026-04-08T16:56:25","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T08:56:25","slug":"plastics","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/malaysia\/our-work\/plastics\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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Plastics<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Plastic pollution isn\u2019t just about litter. It\u2019s a full-blown crisis rooted in overproduction and corporate greed. Driven by fossil fuels and corporate overproduction, plastic is choking our oceans, poisoning our communities, and deepening injustice across the globe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the air we breathe to the food we eat, its toxic footprint is everywhere, and it\u2019s time to stop it at the source.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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What We’re Facing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Plastics have become the go-to material for packaging, seen as cheap, durable, and convenient. But the true cost is hidden. This false solution has created a global waste crisis that pollutes our ecosystems, fuels climate change, and burdens future generations. Malaysia, like many countries, is drowning in plastic. From overflowing landfills to polluted coastlines, plastic is everywhere and it’s not going away on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind the convenience of disposables lies a trail of destruction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\"Brand<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Overproduction crisis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

139 million tonnes of single-use plastics were produced globally in 2021. The world is churning out disposable plastic faster than we can handle. Most of it used once and tossed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Malaysia\u2019s mounting plastic waste<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1.10 million tonnes of plastic are thrown away annually in Malaysia. From drains to seas, our country\u2019s waste system is buckling under the pressure of plastic overload.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Plastic profits, nature losses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

RM31 billion was contributed by the plastic industry to Malaysia\u2019s economy in 2018.While the industry grows, the true cost is paid by people, nature, and future generations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What We’re Building Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We imagine a Malaysia and a world where reuse is the norm, not the exception, where communities thrive without plastic pollution, and the systems we rely on are built to last, not waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reuse, not waste<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Refill stations, returnable containers, and packaging-free choices become the default, cutting waste at the source and making green living accessible for all.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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No more plastic excuses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Single-use plastics are banned, not delayed. Policies are shaped by science, justice, and people rather than corporate interests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Accountability, not greenwashing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Big brands take responsibility for their plastic footprints. False solutions like \u201cbioplastics\u201d and offsets are replaced by real, reusable systems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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From global waste to global action<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Global Plastics Treaty becomes a turning point: slashing plastic production, protecting frontline communities, and holding polluters accountable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our Work for Plastic-Free Future<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We believe in a world where the land, sky, oceans, and water are home to an abundance of life, not an abundance of plastic, and where the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat is free of toxic by-products of plastic pollution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hence, we\u2019re driving global policies to supporting local solutions, holding corporations accountable, and empowering communities to lead the change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Global Plastics Treaty<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Through activism, policy engagement, and research and investigation, we\u2019re pushing for a legally binding treaty that holds corporations accountable, protects communities, and kickstarts a global shift toward reuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Plastic waste trade<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After a flood of foreign waste in 2018, we worked with impacted communities to expose illegal dumping, shut down unlicensed facilities, and return toxic trash to its senders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Community-led program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

GenerasiREuse (genREuse) is one of the programs to shift everyday dining toward reuse plastics. With volunteers and restaurants, we\u2019re piloting practical solutions to cut single-use plastics and inspire wider adoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn more<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
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How You Can Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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