By Professor Dr Suhaiza Hanim

Population expansion, urbanisation, packaging advances, and consumerism have all contributed to a large increase in plastic consumption in Malaysia.

The Federal Territories’ Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) statistics show that every Malaysian produces 1.17 kg of municipal solid waste every day, which includes plastic, food, paper, and glass.

The majority of Malaysians are not aware of the significant commodity value of the waste they produce. Their ignorance is seen in the country’s recycling rate, which was around 33.16 per cent in 2022.

Despite this, the government has set high targets for the circular economy and sustainability, hoping to reach a 40% recycling rate by 2025.

Universiti Putra Malaysia environmental governance expert Associate Professor Dr Haliza Abdul Rahman expressed doubt that Malaysia would be able to reach this goal by 2025.

She asserted that the goal cannot be met unless progressive measures are taken and the populace shows its dedication to recycling activities.

As such, according to Khor Sue Yue, co-founder and director of Zero Waste Malaysia, we should continually uphold the maxim that prevention is always better than treatment.

Sustainable consumption

This can be achieved through sustainable consumption, which refers to how we think about and behave in relation to the environment when we consume, purchase, and dispose of something. It entails embracing sustainable ideals from an early stage in order to make consumer decisions that lessen waste production and environmental effects.

Statista reported in 2023 that around 55.52 per cent of respondents in Malaysia were neutral regarding their willingness to pay extra expenses for sustainable goods and services. Only a quarter of respondents, or 25.86 per cent, claimed that they would be somewhat willing to pay extra.

The likelihood of sustainable consumption behaviour is higher among those who are knowledgeable about environmental concerns and tend to have a more favourable attitude towards the preservation of the environment.

Thus, environmental campaigns and educational materials have to make reference to the seriousness of the present environmental concerns. It could make it possible to promote sustainable consumption more effectively and move towards a circular economy.

According to a Rakuten Insight poll in 2022, almost 32 per cent of Malaysian respondents said that making environmentally friendly or sustainable items more affordable would motivate them to adopt more sustainable consumption practices. The same poll also showed that the cost of adopting sustainable practices was the main deterrent for most respondents.

Due to the use of non-polluting components, chances for cost savings, and recyclable packaging, consumers are more likely to view goods bearing an eco-label as trustworthy.

As a result, the eco-label offers pertinent information on the environmental performance of the items, which customers may find beneficial in making decisions relating to eco-efficiency, as well as leading to sustainable consumption practices.

With this, companies planning to introduce sustainable items to the market must make sure that these products are appropriately labelled, made easily available to consumers, and promoted at a comparatively lower price to pique the attention of consumers.

Renewable energy investment

Besides, the government’s involvement is also essential to providing oversight and legislation. In order to stimulate sustainable consumption, Malaysia has to take urgent steps to improve the environment for renewable energy investment.

While providing a more affluent, sustainable future for its citizens through strategy and policies that emphasise renewable energy investments and are uniform at all levels of government, Malaysia can realise its reaffirmed goal of being net zero by 2050.

For instance, with up to 150 gigawatts of installed capacity needed by 2050, solar photovoltaic is a crucial technology that, regardless of the situation, will guide Malaysia’s energy transformation.

In fact, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change, said that the requirements for the Net Energy Metering (NEM) and Self-Consumption for Solar Photovoltaic Installation (SelCo) programmes have been simplified to promote the use of photovoltaic (PV) solar systems.

By giving consumers the choice to install PV solar systems to lower their power costs as well as encourage sustainable consumption, the ministry promotes energy efficiency and the transition to renewable energy sources.

In order to meet human needs both now and for future generations, sustainable consumption involves using goods and services in ways that have the fewest negative effects on the environment.

It is hoped that sustainable consumption practices may be enhanced with efforts from all parties in Malaysia and that SDG 12 may be accomplished.

-- BERNAMA

Professor Dr Suhaiza Hanim Mohamad Zailani is the Director of the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, University of Malaya.