The plastic footprint of 6 fast-growing Asian economies

The World Wide Fund (WWF) analysed the volume of plastic packaging in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Per capita plastic packaging consumption among the 6 countries was the highest in Malaysia, at 16.78 kg, followed by Thailand (15.52 kg), China (14.08 kg), Vietnam (12.93 kg), Indonesia (12.5 kg) and the Philippines (12.4 kg). Household packaging consumption was the highest in China (19,765 mln tonnes), followed by Indonesia (3,265 mt), the Philippines (1,281 mt), Vietnam (1,223 mt), Thailand (1,069 mt) and Malaysia (523 mt). In China, plastic films and bags are the most common packaged plastic, followed by containers like PET bottles, plastic cups, etc. In the other countries, the most household usage was that of plastic films, bags and PET bottles . Total annual household plastic packaging consumption in these 6 growing Asian economies is 27 mt. The WWF report estimates 60% of the 8 mt plastic that enters oceans every year originates in these countries. If this trend continues, there may be more plastic than fish by weight in seas by 2050. Vast quantities of plastic entering oceans will stay there for centuries, gradually decomposing into countless tiny microplastics particles. The marine debris threatens more than 800 species directly.
All data on an annual basis