Thailand’s Concert of Plastic Pollution

With one of the lowest carbon footprints in Ohio, Athens has famously taken environmentally friendly approaches to development. Their passage of the Plastic Bag Ban ordinance taking effect January 1, 2024, is just one of many environmental initiatives taken on in the region. The passage of the Plastic Bag Ban highlights the potential of citizen-led organizations in bringing about meaningful change which benefits the environment’s overall health. Athens Rethink Plastics (ARP), in partnership with the Sierra Club, a grassroots organization aimed at providing education and raising awareness of plastic pollution’s detrimental effect on the environment, was a key contributor to the crafting of the ordinance. Not only are they providing the necessary research and support for a successful ban, but also guidance and resources for local businesses transitioning from plastic to paper. ARP members have been traveling to different businesses in the city with information on what the ban entails and offering recommendations on possible next steps. They also host sewing bees, where they create reusable bags from recycled plastic material to donate, and a multitude of stores in the city have a sticker on their door saying, “WAIT! Remember, Bring in Your Bags!”, with the Rethink Plastics trademark.

Like Athens, Thailand has implemented a variety of initiatives to combat the increasing threat of plastic pollution. Thailand is known for its beautiful scenery, rich heritage, and diverse cuisine, but it has been plagued by substantial amounts of plastic waste imported from industrialized countries or having washed up ashore on the country’s beaches. Due to the scale of the plastic pollution and insufficient waste management strategies in Thailand, the government has become proactive in seeking out ways to mitigate the impact of the imminent threat.

In recent years Thailand has formulated comprehensive national policies and action plans to address the increasing level of plastic pollution in the region. In 2018, Thailand targeted imports from industrialized countries by restricting the importation of electronic waste, oxo-degradable plastics, and consumer items such as single-use plastic bags, Styrofoam food containers and cups, plastic straws, and microbeads found in cosmetic products (Sasaki, 2021). The National 3R Strategy, National Master Plan for Waste Management, and Plastic Debris Management Plan were aimed at reducing the impacts of plastic waste by promoting the development of environmentally friendly substitutions for plastic, providing detailed plans of stronger waste management, and delivering information for citizens as well (Wichai-utcha, et al., 2019).

The pervasive issue of plastic pollution in aquatic environments poses a substantial threat to marine life and surrounding ecosystems and can create microplastics, which are small plastic fragments that measure less than 5 mm in size, that can slip through filtering processes, and have proven challenging to remove from aquatic environments. Considering the geographic location of Thailand on the Pacific Ocean, taking significant steps to address plastic waste is a commendable move, and can serve as a template for other coastal regions looking to implement similar projects. By tackling the root source of the pollution, the prospects for improving the overall quality of the region and its citizens' well-being are attainable.

Although a significant amount of work still needs to be done in Thailand regarding the plastic pollution crisis, the steps taken thus far at the national and local levels have made tremendous improvements to the environment and overall quality of life. For example, the United Nations Environment Programme has initiated stakeholder involvement with their Plastic-Free Rivers event, aimed at promoting scientific knowledge, community outreach and education, and advancement strategies for community resilience against plastic pollution (UNEP, 2023). Promoting awareness and disseminating information about plastic pollution stands out as a crucial step in crafting impactful policy decisions.

In addition to Thailand’s work on plastic pollution, the Prime Minister noted that the country aims to be carbon neutral by 2050, and net zero emissions by 2065 at the Conference of Parties 26 in 2021 (Chaichaloempreecha and Limmeechokchai, 2022). This goal requires improved energy efficiency, renewable energy usage, carbon capture, and other initiatives that will all benefit overall environmental quality and public health.

In the next portion of the Monsoon Newsletter, I will delve deeper into the country of China and provide a detailed account of the initiatives taken to reduce the amount of plastic used, produced, and imported into the country. I will also uncover other environmental projects taken on by the country, such as their innovative approach to solar energy and the creation of green jobs.