SIG has partnered with Plastic Bank, Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, and decision context to launch a multi-year initiative aimed at reducing ocean-bound packaging waste in Southeast Asia.
The project, titled “Recycle for Good – Prevent Marine Litter,” is designed to strengthen collection, sorting, and recycling systems for packaging materials, including beverage cartons and plastics, across Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. It targets the prevention of at least 10,000 tonnes of packaging waste from entering marine environments.
The initiative focuses on improving the recovery of post-consumer packaging by building local recycling infrastructure and upgrading facilities capable of processing used beverage cartons and flexible plastic materials. It also aims to integrate informal waste collectors into formal recycling value chains, supporting more structured and economically viable waste management systems.
A key component of the programme is behaviour change linked to packaging disposal. Educational initiatives, particularly in schools, are intended to promote segregation at source and improve collection efficiency. Digital tools, including a platform developed by Plastic Bank, will support engagement through incentives and tracking of packaging waste collection across material streams.
From a packaging industry perspective, the project aligns with the development of extended producer responsibility (EPR) frameworks by generating data and scalable models for packaging waste recovery. The initiative also aims to demonstrate system-level approaches that can be adopted by policymakers and industry stakeholders to improve circularity across multiple packaging formats.
The three-year programme will run until 2028 and is supported by funding from German environmental authorities, with a focus on creating long-term, structured solutions for packaging waste management beyond the project lifecycle.