SEO Riders:
– OECD projects up to a 95% reduction in plastic leakage through comprehensive regulations and circular economy reforms.
– Regional recycling rates could quadruple to 54% by 2050, curbing mismanaged waste and ecosystem contamination.
– Success hinges on scaling cross-border cooperation, infrastructure investment, and support for informal waste systems.
A new report from the OECD—published on 30 July 2025—reveals that Southeast and East Asia, which generated 8.4 million tonnes of plastic leakage in 2022, could see this figure drop by over 95% by mid-century, if countries adopt and enforce more ambitious policies across the plastic lifecycle. Despite regional plastic usage nearly ninefold since 1990—reaching 152 million tonnes in 2022 and contributing more than one-third of global plastics use and leakage—the OECD outlines a high-stringency policy pathway that combines demand reduction, improved waste management, and scaled-up circular systems.
Under the high-stringency scenario, plastic use would shrink by 28%, regional recycling rates would rise from 12% to 54%, and mismanaged waste would fall by 97% compared to baseline projections. However, achieving this transformation demands policy harmonization across ASEAN and APT member states, major upgrades to recycling and collection infrastructure, and inclusion of the informal sector through formal integration and support mechanisms.
