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Advancing to a Circular Plastic Economy: A Systematic Review of Policy Instruments
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This systematic review assessed global policy instruments supporting circular economy transitions in plastic waste management, identifying five instrument types and finding significant gaps in Malaysia's policy framework, ultimately proposing an integrated multi-instrument model drawing on international best practices to guide more effective plastic governance in developing economies.
The transition to a (CE) in plastic waste management is increasingly recognised as a pivotal pathway to achieving long-term environmental sustainability. Policy instruments are critical in facilitating this transition, yet their effectiveness varies significantly across regions due to contextual differences in governance, infrastructure, and economic incentives. This study undertakes a systematic literature review to critically assess the global application of policy instruments that support CE practices in plastic waste management, with a particular emphasis on the Malaysian context. Using the ROSES methodology, this study analyses academic literature and policy documents to categorize instruments into five types: regulatory, economic, informational-based, collaborative, and investment. The analysis identifies key policy gaps, fragmentation, and a lack of sector-specific strategies within Malaysia’s current CE policy framework. Drawing on international best practices, this study proposes an integrated, multi-instrument policy model tailored to Malaysia’s institutional and economic landscape. The findings offer strategic policy insights and a conceptual foundation to guide more effective CE implementation in developing economies, thereby contributing to ongoing academic and policy discourse on sustainable plastic value chain governance.
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Malaysia has created several plastic waste policies, but this study found they don't work well together and often just swap regular plastics for single-use "biodegradable" ones instead of cutting plastic use overall. This matters because weak, disjointed policies mean more plastic waste keeps piling up or getting burned or dumped, which can break down into microplastics that end up in our food, water, and bodies.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.