There is no denying that plastics plays an important role for the society. Banning plastics and straws is not the solution.

Effective waste management closely supported by a strong recycling industry is the way forward towards keeping plastics in an effective and efficient Circular Economy model.

In April 2019, Plastic Energy, a company with a unique process to transform traditionally non-recyclable plastic waste into hydrocarbon products and back into plastic, reached an agreement with the province of West Java (Indonesia) to build five chemical recycling plants.

This comes at a time when Indonesia, a country which is second only to China for leaking plastic into the sea, is grappling to reduce plastic pollution in particular plastics reaching the ocean.

The Indonesian government has made addressing the plastic waste issue a priority, with an ambitious commitment to reduce marine plastic debris by 70 per cent by 2025.

All across Asia, countries from Thailand to Malaysia has tightened the doors to import plastic and electronic waste, implementing Zero Waste campaigns and finding solutions to improve their waste management industry.

Indonesia is still in its early stages of development, and as such infrastructure development still faces a range of challenges.

In Malaysia, Waste Management Association chairman Ho De Leong stresses that increasing the recycling rate isn’t enough. Malaysia urgently needs "proper waste treatment facilities and infrastructure." ~ The Star, 16th July 2019.

• How is the plastics recycling industry thriving since the China Ban and the latest Basel changes?
• What are the innovations in recycling that is making hard-to-recycle plastics possible?
• How are brandowners meeting their recyclability targets?

• Initiatives on improving recovery rates -Upgrading of waste collection infrastructures, separation & dedicated deposit systems
• Regulations updates from Indonesia, Australia, Taiwan, Philippines, Japan
• Brandowners 3R’s initiatives & recycled plastics targets
• Chemical recycling technology to convert mixed plastics waste into virgin quality polymer – highlighting the prospects in Asia
• Newcycling® - a innovative alternative to chemical recycling
• Developments in food grade rHDPE
• Recycling beyond China & the impact of the Basel changes - thriving in a disrupted market
• Enzymatic green tech solutions to degrade plastics waste                          
• Sustainably sourced & biodgradeable smart water soluble polymer (PVA) to make soft flexible plastic films
• Biodegradable packaging made from starch
• Upcycling hard-to-recycle plastics to outdoor furniture