Share of global marine plastic pollution APAC 2019, by country

In 2019, the Philippines was the largest emitter of ocean plastics in the Asia-Pacific region, accounting for 36.38 percent of the global marine plastic pollution. India followed, contributing approximately 13 percent to ocean plastic waste worldwide.

 Mismanaged plastic waste across Asia

Asian countries and territories are responsible for over 80 percent of all global plastic waste emitted to the ocean. This is a result of waste mismanagement, attributable to lacking waste collection and processing infrastructures across several countries in the region. Recycling makes up a small share of waste disposal methods used, while open dumps are the most-employed practice in Southeast Asia. As the name suggests, open dumps are mostly uncovered, leading to a higher risk of pollution of the surrounding areas and especially leakage into rivers nearby. Rivers are a major source of marine debris, and South and Southeast Asian rivers make up the largest emitters of ocean plastics worldwide. River Pasig in the Philippines accounts for over six percent of this debris.

Impact on climate and people

Asia-Pacific is the world region most vulnerable to climate change and accompanying sea-level rise due to its many islands and low-lying coastal territories. Insufficient waste management practices such as open dumps or incineration are catalysts to global warming, as the exposure of plastic debris to sunlight and heat leads to the release of greenhouse gases.
Consumers in Asia have shared their various concerns regarding plastics, including their effects on the global climate as well as ocean and marine life.