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Turn off the tap or continue mopping up? Lessons from the Maldives
10 February 2022
The Maldives will reduce its plastic waste by 30% by 2030. The Government of the heavily polluted island group in the Indian Ocean will introduce five policy instruments. An article recently appeared in the journal Global Environmental Change about the method used – the Plastic Drawdown – and how it will be used in the Maldives and elsewhere.
The Alliance to End Plastic Waste (AEPW), a coalition of multinationals, is also striving for less plastic pollution. Its aproach, however, is completely different. Last year, scientists compared both approaches and were extremely critical about the stance of the multinationals.
Both approaches are relevant in light of a potential international plastic treaty with binding terms. The world will decide on this in a few weeks’ time.
WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THE MALDIVES
The Maldives are using the Plastic Drawdown. This is a method designed in 2019 that is cheap and doable. Results can be obtained relatively fast, even if there is little data about the local pollution available.
- First, the sources of plastic pollution are inventoried.
- Then an assessment is made of the measures that are the most effective in tackling the pollution at source. A standard list of 18 measures, including banning certain single-use plastic products, is then examined.
- Finally, the government determines the strategy in light of the scenarios that help clarify the problem and stakeholders are involved in the process.
A spokesperson of the President stated that: ‘Plastic Drawdown was critical in building the case for phasing out single-use plastics across the Maldives’. Without Government action, the quantity of plastic waste would increase by 45% by 2030.
THERE IS NO POLICY IN MOST COUNTRIES
Of the countries that are the most highly polluted with plastic, one third do not have any policies at all to deal with the pollution. One fifth of those countries only concentrate on banning plastic bags. There is a long way to go. Now, thanks to the Plastic Drawdown, measures are being taken in the Maldives. They range from banning plastic bottles to issuing levies and introducing deposit systems.
THE INDUSTRIAL ALTERNATIVE
Three years ago, multinationals came up with their answer to the plastic crisis. United under AEPW, they promoted four approaches or strategies.
- Infrastructure. The development of waste management infrastructure and recycling.
- Innovation. Innovation in recycling technologies that improve recycling and thus give more value to plastic waste.
- Education. Informing governments, companies and communities to take action.
- Clean Up. Cleaning up plastic litter, particularly in rivers in Asia that contribute largely to the plastic soup.
The AEPW publishes progress reports. However, to date the results obtained have been saddening. They barely go beyond the level of a local pilot project, even if there is a budget of more than one billion dollars available. In their article, the researchers put this down to the framing of the problem. The AEPW places the issue in the laps of consumers and local governments rather than taking its own responsibility as producers.
Among the members of AEPW are multinationals that have large interests as plastic producers such as BASF, Dow, Shell Chemical and ExxonMobil. Just last year it was determined that eight of its members are among the top 100 plastic manufacturers that are responsible for 90% of the worldwide plastic production.
UNITED NATIONS WORKING ON PLASTIC TREATY
The environmental conference of the United Nations will be held in Nairobi. One of the most important subjects at UNEA-5.2 is whether an international plastic treaty will be introduced with binding clauses in the fight against the plastic soup. Will the emphasis be on voluntary measures and clean ups? Or will there be international legislation that supports local policy like that in the Maldives?
The AEPW multinationals are as quiet as a mouse. The word UNEA does not even appear on the Alliance’s website. This alone proves its preferred, but not explicitly named, strategy: continue producing plastic as long as possible with as few limitations from the government.
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