Global researchers gather to tackle plastic pollution in South East Asia 

With plastic pollution posing severe threats to ocean health and biodiversity, particularly in Southeast Asia, this week, researchers from around the globe are gathering to finalise proposals to address the critical issue of plastic pollution in this region.

Southeast Asia has emerged as a hot spot for plastic pollution because of rapid urbanisation and a rising middle class.

Hosted by the UK’s University of Portsmouth, this four-day meeting marks the culmination of a four-year international project under the South East Asia Plastics (SEAP) Programme, aimed at understanding and mitigating the impacts of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.

Since its start in November 2020, the microSEAP project has united researchers, policy groups, and community leaders from the UK, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The primary goal has been to enhance understanding of the effects of plastic pollution on vital marine ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs and beaches, and to support the development of effective mitigation of measures.

There is recognition across the world that the impact of plastic pollution, particularly in the marine environment, is significant. Further, the entire lifecycle of plastic, including its manufacturing and transport, creates billions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

The United Nations Environment Programme states:

“Lightweight, durable, and inexpensive, plastic has many valuable uses in our daily life. However, our current levels of plastic production, usage, and disposal pose serious threats to our health, environment, and economy. Due to our resource-inefficient, linear economy of plastic, characterized by a take-make-waste approach, plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues we face today.”

Countries in East Asia and the Pacific are at the centre of the marine plastics crisis - with some countries in the region representing the biggest contributors and others disproportionately affected by the impacts of marine plastic debris on their shores.

The World Bank Group is supporting governments and businesses on plastic-smart solutions to #BeatPlasticPollution, promote a circular economy, and improve livelihoods for countries and communities across the region. 

In June 2022, the World Bank advised that it would support ASEAN Member States to reduce marine plastic pollution with a US$20 million grant for the Southeast Asia Regional Program on Combating Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP), approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors.

The University of Portsmouth and its partners have conducted extensive research on plastic pollution in Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia.  These countries, all neighbouring the South China Sea – a hotspot for uncontrolled plastic waste - are severely affected by plastic pollution, which often originates from other regions.  

Professor Simon Cragg notes “Plastic pollution is a growing threat to marine environments worldwide. Thanks to our international partners, this innovative project has provided us with a comprehensive picture of the impact plastics have on marine ecosystems in South East Asia.  We now need to work together to find sustainable solutions.”

This week’s event will feature a series of workshops led by specialists from the University of Portsmouth, to develop actionable solutions.  Representatives from all four countries will participate in the discussions.

Solutions may include changes in policy, economic strategies, and the introduction of new technologies. Through its Revolution Plastics Institute, the University of Portsmouth has expertise in all areas of plastic pollution research. One of the highlights of the meeting will be a detailed examination of how plastics degrade in marine environments using the advanced techniques of a FIB SEM (Focused Ion Beam SEM).  This technology, typically used to study the degradation of rocks and minerals, will provide a microscopic view of how enzymes of marine bacteria degrade microplastics. 

Professor Cragg added “By leveraging Portsmouth’s expertise in the Revolution Plastics Institute, the Centre for Blue Governance, and the Centre for Enzyme Innovation, we aim to propose effective solutions to reduce the impact of plastics on marine environments.”

The insights gained from the SEAP Programme will aid policymakers and marine ecosystem managers in South East Asia in developing interventions and measures to mitigate environmental damage from marine plastics.

The microSEAP project is one of four international research collaborations funded by the UK’s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), with additional support from the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Singapore National Research Foundation.

Image. Credit: United Nations Environment Program