October 13: Asian countries are stepping up efforts to combat plastic pollution through recycled content mandates, certification systems and waste tracking regulations, even as negotiations for a global plastics treaty remain stalled, according to an analysis published by East Asia Forum.
The analysis written by Justin Robertson of City University of Hong Kong and Douglas Woodring of Ocean Recovery Alliance, examines how national policies in India, South Korea and Japan are influencing the use of recycled plastics while Australia and China are developing standards to improve plastic waste management and traceability.
India has mandated that rigid plastic food packaging contain at least 40 per cent recycled material in 2026–27, with the requirement set to rise to 60 per cent by 2028–29. South Korea announced a requirement in September 2025 for plastic beverage bottle producers to use at least 10 per cent recycled content. Japan has also introduced government procurement incentives for plastic bottles containing at least 15 per cent recycled material from January 2026.
According to the authors these measures create predictable demand for recycled plastic, encouraging investment in recycling infrastructure and reducing dependence on newly produced plastic. Regulations in major markets can also influence manufacturers across Asia, as maintaining separate packaging specifications for different countries can increase production and inventory costs.
As more countries adopt recycled content requirements, rising demand could encourage recycling businesses to expand capacity, achieve economies of scale and lower the cost of recycled materials. Companies that invest in recycled plastic supply chains may also be more likely to continue using them because of long term contracts and the costs involved in switching materials.
China could further strengthen this trend by introducing mandatory recycled content requirements. Although the country has developed national standards for recycled plastics, the analysis notes that these remain recommendations rather than compulsory rules.
Certification and traceability systems are also emerging as important tools in tackling plastic pollution. India’s packaging traceability framework includes QR codes and barcodes to improve the tracking of plastic materials. Australia requires plastic waste intended for export to meet specified conditions, including separation by polymer type cleaning and processing for remanufacturing.
China has developed nine national standards for recycled plastics including guidelines for tracing materials throughout the supply chain. In June 2026, its National Development and Reform Commission released a roadmap outlining how plastic by products could cross the country’s borders under clearer standards, following restrictions imposed on solid waste imports in 2018.
The authors suggest that certified and properly processed plastic feedstock could support safer international recycling trade provided material quality and regulatory enforcement are maintained.
The issue is particularly relevant to Southeast Asia, where Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand closed their borders to plastic imports in 2025. The analysis argues that shared regional standards could help countries improve waste management while enabling the controlled movement of recyclable materials across borders.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could help establish common standards for certified recycled plastic materials and transparent tracking systems. However regional coordination remains challenging because national restrictions have largely been introduced unilaterally.
The analysis also notes that 24 jurisdictions have applied to join the European Union’s list of countries eligible to import non hazardous waste including Indonesia Malaysia and Thailand. This indicates interest in meeting international verification standards to facilitate waste related trade.
The authors argue that recycled content mandates, certification systems and trade rules must work together to build a regional circular economy. Mandatory recycled content generates demand demand encourages the movement of recyclable materials between countries and certification helps buyers verify the quality of those materials.
They conclude that national regulations and regional cooperation could help reduce plastic pollution even without a comprehensive global agreement potentially reshaping Asia’s plastic supply chains and encouraging wider adoption of recycling standards.