Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - 8

environment
Engagement is the
missing ingredient
Much has been written about the plastic waste crisis in Asia. Discussions on
solutions tend to focus on technology, infrastructure, economic and environmental
aspects. A recent panel Q&A discussion, moderated by CAPP.Global co-founder Rob
Steir, suggests that this approach may be missing an important point, namely that for
any solution to be a success, it must have the support of the people involved. Simply
put: Without engagement, there is no solution.
C
8
APP.Global, an initiative
operating under
the auspices of the
Ocean Recovery Alliance,
organises student team
competitions called Make the
Case, which are designed to
identify programmes and innovations
that have proven effective
at reducing or eliminating
plastic waste and have the potential
to be scaled. The focus
is emphatically not on new
startup concepts. The panel
discussion in question was intended
to highlight the Make
the Case competitions and at
the same time offer insight into
highly effective solutions currently
being implemented to
solve Asia's significant plastic
waste problem. Questions from
moderator Rob Steir served to
May/June 2022
guide the discussion.
The insights that emerged
were, in fact, of a completely
different order. Instead of looking
at possible solutions, the
panelists took a step back and
approached the problem from
a more fundamental starting
point. What needs to happen in
order for Asia, and for most of
the world, to tackle the plastic
waste problem effectively? Why
do most solutions fall short?
How is it possible that millions
of tonnes of plastic continue to
enter the ocean each and every
year, although no one anywhere
wants this to happen?
Trust and Ownership
The first insight came with the
realization that progress would
not come without a change in
the mindset of the local population
facing the problem of
plastic waste. Such a change
would only be possible by gaining
the trust of the people most
involved. How?
First, by taking action, according
to the panelists, to continually
clean up waterways in
a local area. Pollution inspires
more pollution, while clean waters
create a disincentive for
pollution, bringing pride to protecting
the clean waters once
cleaned. Setting up a boom, net
or catchment device at regular
intervals along that waterway
to catch the waste and monitoring
these areas - and removing
waste on a daily, weekly or
regular basis - will ensure the
surface water downstream from
each intervention point is clean.
The result: an ongoing program
that cleans local waterways
due to the efforts of the local
government, with the active
involvement of the community.
Second, the root causes and
sources of the plastic waste in
the area must be identified and
solutions for their prevention,
avoidance and further pollu

Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022

Contents
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - Cover1
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - Cover2
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - Contents
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - 4
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - 5
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - 6
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - 7
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - 8
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Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - Cover3
Sustainable Plastics - May/June 2022 - Cover4
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