Events
Thailand Stakeholder Consultation on Reducing Marine Litter by Addressing the Management of the Plastic Value Chain in Southeast Asia
7 June 2019Thailand Stakeholder Consultation on Reducing Marine Litter by Addressing the Management of the Plastic Value Chain in Southeast Asia
7 June 2019, Bangkok, Thailand
Purpose and objectives of the consultation
The project Reducing marine litter by addressing the management of the plastic value chain in South-East Asia aims to reduce the adverse impact of marine litter from plastic leakage by ensuring that less plastic is entering general solid waste streams where the coverage and effectiveness of the management systems is weak. This project, funded by the Sweden International Development Agency (Sida) and implemented by UN Environment Programme (UN Environment) and the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA), will involve stakeholders throughout the plastic value chain, from governments, to plastic producers and retailers, to waste managers and consumers, to disadvantaged groups such as coastal communities and informal waste pickers most impacted by plastic pollution. The UN Environment Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific and the COBSEA Secretariat each lead activities related to the following four Outputs:
Output 1
Market-based solutions towards “less plastic wasted” – Target countries: Malaysia and Thailand.
Output 2
Strengthening the scientific basis for decision-making – Target countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, leveraging participation and input from other COBSEA countries. Singapore, China, Japan, ROK, Australia.
Output 3
Outreach on marine litter and plastic pollution – Target countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, leveraging participation and input from other COBSEA countries.
Output 4
Regional networking – Target countries: All nine COBSEA countries, i.e. Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
The inception phase of the project has concluded on 31 January 2019, generating a revised Results Framework for the implementation to 2023. The objectives of the consultation with stakeholders in Thailand are:
- To receive feedback on the project’s objective and expected impact, strategies and approaches, and plans in Thailand.
- To introduce the project’s Implementation Partners and stakeholders in Thailand, and
- To explore opportunities for collaboration among other initiatives and partners.
PARTICIPANTS
Participants will include national and local governmental representatives, private sector representatives, members of the academia, and civil society organizations in Thailand, UN agencies and other inter-governmental agencies based in Thailand, as well as implementation partners of the project Reducing marine litter by addressing the management of plastic value chain in Southeast Asia.
7 June 2019
| Time & Place | Event Details |
|---|---|
08:30 Registration | Registration and Coffee |
09:00 Welcome Remarks | Government of Thailand, the Embassy of Sweden, and UN Environment |
09:10 Setting the scene | Overview of the project and the consultation by Mr. Jerker Tamelander, COBSEA Secretariat Overview of the value chain approach and the role of partners, Ms.Kakuko Yoshida, UN Environment |
09:40 Current status and | Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) |
10:00 Break | Group Photo and Networking Break |
10:30 Actions to reduce | Facilitated by: Ms. Kakuko Yoshida, UN Environment
Market-based solutions towards “less plastic wasted:
|
11:45 Measuring impact and | Facilitated by: Ms. Kakuko Yoshida, UN Environment
|
12:15 Lunch | Break |
13:15 Promoting inclusive | Facilitated by: Ms. Natalie Harms, UN Environment
|
14:15 Accelerating and | Group A: Market-based solutions and business incentives Group B: Scientific evidence and data needs Group C: Outreach and engagement Group D: SEA of Solutions partnership week Crosscutting issues: enabling policy frameworks and |
15.30 | Wrap-up and Closing Closing remarks by Mr. Staffan Herrström, Swedish |
Thailand Stakeholder Consultation on reducing marine litter
SEA circular held a Thailand Stakeholder Consultation on Reducing marine litter by addressing the management of the plastic value chain in South East Asia on 7 June 2019.
The event was convened by the UN Environment Programme, the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East of Asia (COBSEA), and the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), supported by the Government of Sweden. A wide range of delegates attended, from local government, private sector, academia, civil society organizations, UN agencies and other inter-governmental agencies.
UN Environment Programme encourages a ‘people-centred approach’ to marine waste management, to support the most vulnerable groups impacted by marine litter and to improve the living standards of the informal waste management sector.
The Government of Thailand affirmed their commitment to strengthening partnerships to tackle marine plastic pollution – to meet their objectives in the Roadmap on Plastic Waste Management 2018-2030, and under the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris. The Government recently announced that they will phase out seven types of plastic items starting in 2019 and completing in 2022 – including plastic bottle cap seals, oxo-type plastics, microbeads, plastic bags of less than 36 microns, foam food containers, single-use plastic cups, and plastic straws. The country also aims to recycle 100% of plastic waste by 2027.
The Food and Drug Administration of Thailand (FDA) outlined plans to revise restrictions on the use of recycled plastic for food packaging, through collaboration between government agencies and the private sector.
Innovative solutions to plastic pollution were presented by influential corporations, including the Siam Cement PLC (SCG), Coca-Cola Thailand Ltd. and IKEA Southeast Asia – who are spearheading new ways to do business, whilst reducing their plastic footprint and minimizing waste to landfill. Local government officials from Rayong and Chiang Mai presented their actions to promote circular economy principles. Grassroots movements such as Trash Hero showcased how they are galvanizing action and raising awareness. Also in attendance were biodegradable packaging company Gracz, Food Industry Asia (FIA), Phuket Hotel Association, Swedish Thai Chamber of Commerce and a range of corporations and private sector organisations.
A new logo and branding for SEA circular were launched during the Thailand Stakeholder Consultation.
Next steps for SEA circular include the first annual ‘SEA of Solutions 2019’ partnership week for marine plastic pollution prevention, at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, 11-14 November 2019. SEA of Solutions 2019 will build multi-stakeholder partnerships between governments, the private sector, international investors and innovators, local communities and grassroots organizations, to solve plastic pollution at source in South East Asia.
Related News
- 09.10-09.40 Intro – 1 Jerker Tamelander_Project Overview.pdf
- 09.10-9.40 Intro – 2 Kakuko Nagatani-Yoshida.pdf
- 10.30-11.45 Actions – 2 FDA Jiraratana Thesasilpa.pdf
- 10.30-11.45 Actions – 3 SCG Numpol Limprasert.pdf
- 10.30-11.45 Actions – 5 IKEA Lars Svensson.pdf
- 10.30-11.45 Actions – 6 SWAT Panate Manomaivibool & Burin Tangsilpaolarn.pdf
- 10.30-11.45 Actions – Coca-Cola Edwin Seah.pdf
- 11.45-12.15 Indicators for Success – Amit Jain.pdf
- 11.45-12.15 SEA circular – Outreach and Visibility – Esther Lake.pdf
- 13.15-14.15 HRBA – 1 – Right to Environment – Natalie Harms.pdf
- 13.15-14.15 HRBA – 2 – OHCHR – Thérèse Björk.pdf
- 13.15-14.15 HRBA – 3 – UNDP – Harpreet Kaur.pdf
- CLOSING.pdf
- SEAcircular Thailand Stakeholder Consultation 7 June 2019 Meeting Report final.pdf
- UN Environment Sida – Marine Litter in SEA – Thailand stakeholder consultation 7 June Bangkok – programme 20190606.pdf
Events