The Malaysian government has set a target to eliminate the use of plastic bags in all premises and business sectors by 2025, in an effort to combat the issue of single-use plastic waste pollution.
Photo via Astro AWANI
Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, stated that the implementation has been phased in starting with physical stores before gradually moving to business premises such as stalls and roadside traders.
The plastic bag-free campaign has already been implemented in four states: Selangor, Penang, Johor and Negeri Sembilan.
The objective of the campaign is to tackle the issue of plastic waste pollution in Malaysia, which is among the top ten countries in the world facing the problem of unmanaged plastic waste.
According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund, the estimated consumption of plastic food packaging alone in Malaysia reached 148,000 metric tons in 2020…
Single-use plastics are detrimental to the environment due to their non-biodegradable nature. When plastics are discarded improperly, they can end up in landfills, oceans and waterways, and cause harm to wildlife and ecosystems. They take hundreds of years to decompose, and during that time they release toxic chemicals into the environment, contributing to climate change and global warming.
Photo via Ipsos
It's crucial to understand the impact that our daily actions have on the environment and take steps to reduce our consumption of single-use plastics.
We can start by bringing our own reusable bags when shopping, using refillable water bottles instead of buying bottled water, and avoiding single-use plastic cutlery and straws.
By reducing our use of single-use plastics, we can help to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and our oceans, and protect the environment for future generations.
In conclusion, it's essential to be aware of the impact of single-use plastics on the environment. We need to work together to reduce our consumption of plastics and take steps towards more sustainable living.
We can make a difference by making small changes to our daily habits, and collectively contribute to a greener and cleaner world!
