Cambodia's Plan to Cut Plastic Pollution 74% by 2040

Cambodia is turning the tide on plastic pollution with a bold national plan that proves environmental protection and economic growth can go hand in hand.

The Southeast Asian nation unveiled its Plastic Action Roadmap on Tuesday, mapping out how it will cut plastic pollution by 74% and create thousands of green jobs by 2040. The Ministry of Environment partnered with the United Nations Development Programme and the World Economic Forum to craft this evidence-based strategy.

The numbers tell a challenging story. Cambodia generates 546,000 tonnes of plastic waste each year, about 33 kilograms per person. That's higher than the average for similar income-level countries, and waste collection reaches only 50% nationally, though urban areas fare better at 70%.

But the roadmap offers real solutions. By shifting from a "take, make, dispose" model to a circular economy where plastics stay in use instead of polluting the environment, Cambodia aims to increase its circularity rate to 52% by 2040.

The plan addresses the full lifecycle of plastics. It identifies ways to eliminate unnecessary plastic products, expand reuse programs, and promote alternative materials. Downstream, it improves waste collection and recycling infrastructure, particularly in rural areas where services lag behind cities.

The benefits extend beyond cleaner rivers and landscapes. The transition could save the government an estimated 37% in costs compared to continuing current practices. Greenhouse gas emissions from plastics would drop 40%, helping Cambodia meet climate goals.

The Ripple Effect

The roadmap stands out for recognizing people often overlooked in environmental planning. Informal waste collectors already play a vital role in Cambodia's recycling system, and the plan ensures they benefit from the transition through formal job creation and better working conditions.

A dedicated gender equity and social inclusion analysis examines how plastic pollution hits marginalized communities hardest. The solutions prioritize actions that help vulnerable groups most, from cleaner water sources to economic opportunities in the green economy.

Those 26,000 new jobs will span recycling facilities, repair services, and innovative businesses built around reusable materials. Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth emphasized this aligns with Cambodia's broader environmental modernization goals through 2028.

Enrico Gaveglia from UNDP Cambodia highlighted how the roadmap fills critical knowledge gaps about plastic waste flows while capturing value from recyclable and biodegradable materials. The World Economic Forum's Clémence Schmid called it "more than an environmental goal" but a development opportunity driving innovation and economic resilience.

Cambodia joins 24 other countries in the Global Plastic Action Partnership, bringing evidence-based collaboration to one of the world's most pressing environmental challenges while showing that cleanup can create opportunity.