Ms Trish Lai of Kaimana Brunei discussed the challenges of the refill business which can contribute to reduction of packaging waste, for example, high consumer spending abroad, a small local market, expensive shipping, lack of manufacturing capacity, and the necessity of focusing on niche products with anchor points. Ms Wendy Han from Precious Plastic Brunei highlighted initiatives aimed at raising awareness and mobilising local communities against plastic waste. She also showed how local communities can create a plastic recycling facility on their own.
Prof Scott Valentine provided insights into how the lack of perceived value in plastic waste is a root cause and proposed economic solutions like deposit schemes and plastic bag surcharges to incentivise responsible plastic use and recycling. He also responded to a participant’s question as to how to tackle the overwhelming plastic waste issue, by encouraging citizens to support businesses like Tebalik Plastik, Kaimana, or Precious Plastic, and start contributing in a small way.
This seminar highlights the continuous involvement of ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris in tackling the intricate challenges linked to marine plastic debris. By encouraging collaboration and advancing innovative approaches, the Centre remains dedicated to assisting and showcasing companies and organisations actively addressing marine debris issues
List of Abbreviations
ERIA (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia)
ERIA is an international organization established in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2008 by a formal agreement among Leaders of 16 countries in the East Asian region to conduct research activities and make policy recommendations for further economic integration in the East Asia
Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation
The formation of the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation under the Ministry of Development took effect in 2002. Currently, the department handles matters pertaining to Waste Management, Environmental Conservation and Management, Management of Landscape and Recreational Areas and also Environmental Cooperation at National, Bilateral and International level.
GIZ
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH or GIZ is the main German Government development agency with headquarter in Bonn and Eschborn and provides services in the field of international development cooperation and international education work. The main commissioning party is Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
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