The World Wildlife Fund in a report published in 2022 stated that Malaysia ranks eight most polluted in the world in respect of plastic waste as it is still widely used by people for their daily use.

Globally, the United Nations Environmental Programme revealed that one million plastic bottles are purchased every minute worldwide and five trillion plastic bags are used every year which is a damning verdict on the spate of plastic waste.

Independent researchers who specialise on investigating plastic waste warn that by the year 2040 these wastes could account for 19 percent of global greenhouse gas emission if nothing is done to arrest its growing use now.

This has prompted Malaysia to introduce the mandatory extended producer responsibility project to revolutionise waste management under the Malaysian Plastics Conservation Framework 2021 to 2030.

The Framework also emphasises the importance of industry collaborations as it is essential to equip the next generation of leaders and innovators with the skills and knowledge to undertake sustainable policies and programmes in the future.

This is because the nation now realizes the challenges of climate change, pollution and resource depletion that Environmental, Social and Government (ESG) principles are essential to the survival of businesses, communities and the ecosystem.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE