ERIA\u2019s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, in collaboration with Brunei\u2019s Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation and GIZ, Hosts Event Exploring Brunei’s Plastic Pollution Strategies and the Private Sector’s Role in Championing Plastic Circularity, organised as part of Brunei Darussalam\u2019s World Environment Day event series.<\/p>\n
ERIA\u2019s
\nRegional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, in collaboration with
\nBrunei Darussalam\u2019s Department of Environment, Parks and
\nRecreation and the GIZ, explored Brunei’s strategies to tackle plastic
\npollution and the private sector’s role in championing plastic circularity.<\/p>\n
Titled
\n“Private Sector Initiatives to Reduce Marine Plastics: Brunei’s Journey to
\nPlastic Sustainability: Hands-on Initiatives in Action,” the event, organised
\nas part of Brunei Darussalam\u2019s World Environment Day event series, brought
\ntogether professionals from the public and private sectors, along with civil
\nsociety, to explore innovative solutions and best practices in addressing
\nplastic pollution. Over 108 attendees from the ASEAN region and beyond took
\npart in the event, actively participating in the Q&A session.<\/p>\n
The
\nseminar began with the Director of the Regional Knowledge Centre, Mr Reo Kawamura emphasising the critical importance of
\ncollaboration between governments, private companies, and academia to address
\nthe global plastic pollution challenge and achieve peaceful coexistence with the natural environment. Ms Hajah Martinah Haji Tamit,
\nDirector of Brunei Darussalam’s Department of Environment, Parks and
\nRecreation, outlined the challenges of plastic waste management and reaffirmed
\nBrunei’s commitment to tackling plastic pollution alongside other ASEAN member
\nstates. She also highlighted Brunei’s active involvement in United Nations
\nnegotiations to develop a global treaty on plastic pollution. Mr Phong Giang,
\nAdvisor for GIZ 3RproMar and AMUSE programmes in ASEAN, detailed GIZ’s initiatives across
\nASEAN countries, which include supporting government regulations, promoting
\ncircular economy solutions, and engaging with the private sector on upcoming
\nglobal plastic treaties.<\/p>\n
Mr
\nMichikazu Kojima, Senior Research Fellow on Environmental Issues at ERIA,
\nhighlighted Asia’s plastic pollution crisis and underscored the need for a life
\ncycle approach. He emphasised the private sector’s role in developing
\nsustainable materials, designing reusable products, and improving waste
\nmanagement systems. Mr Mims Sidi from Tebalik Plastik shared their goals to close the loop of plastics, by transforming plastic
\nwaste into sustainable products, supporting a circular economy and aligning
\nwith regional and global sustainability objectives. Ms Trish Lai of Kaimana
\nBrunei discussed the challenges of the refill business which
\ncan contribute to reduction of packaging waste, for example, high
\nconsumer spending abroad, a small local market, expensive shipping, lack of
\nmanufacturing capacity, and the necessity of focusing on niche products with
\nanchor points. Ms Wendy Han from Precious Plastic Brunei highlighted
\ninitiatives aimed at raising awareness and mobilising local communities against
\nplastic waste. She also showed how local communities can create a
\nplastic recycling facility on their own. Prof Scott Valentine provided insights into
\nhow the lack of perceived value in plastic waste is a root cause and proposed
\neconomic solutions like deposit schemes and plastic bag surcharges to
\nincentivise responsible plastic use and recycling. He also responded to a participant\u2019s question as to
\nhow to tackle the overwhelming plastic waste issue, by encouraging citizens to
\nsupport businesses like Tebalik Plastik, Kaimana, or Precious Plastic, and start contributing in a small way.<\/p>\n
This seminar highlights the continuous involvement of
\nERIA\u2019s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris in tackling the
\nintricate challenges linked to marine plastic debris. By encouraging
\ncollaboration and advancing innovative approaches, the Centre remains dedicated
\nto assisting and showcasing companies and organisations actively addressing
\nmarine debris issues<\/p>\n
List of Abbreviations<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n
ERIA
\n(Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia)<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n
ERIA is an international organization established
\nin Jakarta, Indonesia in 2008 by a formal agreement among Leaders of 16
\ncountries in the East Asian region to conduct research activities and make
\npolicy recommendations for further economic integration in the East Asia. <\/p>\n
Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation<\/b><\/p>\n
The formation of the Department of Environment,
\nParks and Recreation under the Ministry of Development took effect in 2002.
\nCurrently, the department handles matters pertaining to Waste Management,
\nEnvironmental Conservation and Management, Management of Landscape and
\nRecreational Areas and also Environmental Cooperation at National, Bilateral
\nand International level.<\/p>\n
GIZ <\/b><\/p>\n
The Deutsche Gesellschaft f\u00fcr Internationale
\nZusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH or GIZ is the main German Government development
\nagency with headquarter in Bonn and Eschborn and provides services in the field
\nof international development cooperation and international education work. The
\nmain commissioning party is Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation
\nand Development (BMZ)<\/p>\n
GIZ 3RproMar Programme<\/b><\/p>\n
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle to Protect the Marine
\nEnvironment and Coral Reefs (3RproMar) is a GIZ project (2020-2025) is an
\nASEAN-German cooperation project implemented by GIZ in coordination with the
\nASEAN Secretariat. <\/p>\n
GIZ AMUSE<\/b><\/p>\n
ASEAN Municipal Solid Waste Management
\nEnhancement (AMUSE) is implemented by GIZ (2022 -2025), having its objective to
\nimprove environmental quality in small and medium-sized cities in the ASEAN
\nregion by optimising waste disposal and recycling. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ERIA\u2019s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, in collaboration with Brunei\u2019s Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation and GIZ, Hosts Event Exploring Brunei’s Plastic Pollution Strategies and the Private Sector’s Role in Championing Plastic Circularity, organised as part of Brunei Darussalam\u2019s World Environment Day event series. ERIA\u2019s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t