Phnom Penh, 20 January 2026 – Today marks the launch of the Plastic Action Roadmap in Cambodia titled: “Journey Towards a Circular Plastic Economy”. The roadmap is a result of a collaborative effort coordinated by the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) – the world’s largest multistakeholder initiative on plastic pollution, spanning 25 country partnerships, and hosted by the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Cambodia joined GPAP in 2023 and established the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) as a platform to bring together various actors from across the plastics value chain in order to accelerate the transition to a circular plastics economy. The initiative developed a baseline of generation and waste flows of five key plastic types, estimating that in 2022, Cambodia generated 546,000 tonnes of plastic waste, averaging at 33kg per person a year – exceeding the individual plastic waste generation of lower-middle income countries for the same year. In addition, it found that while the urban collection rate stood at 70%, the national average was only a little over half due to accessibility and infrastructure challenges in rural areas.
Mr. Enrico Gaveglia, UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia, said, “The roadmap offers insights and a better understanding of plastic waste generation with its flows in Cambodia. It presents not only an opportunity to improve waste management, but also to reduce the consumption of Single-Use plastic items and capture the value of recyclable and biodegradable materials, contributing to Cambodia’s transition to a circular economy.”
The roadmap acknowledges the invaluable role of informal workers in the plastics value chain and outlines key upstream and downstream opportunities with concrete actions to reduce the volume of plastic, increase circularity and reduce pollution which threatens the health of people and ecosystems. It presents a System Change Scenario by 2040 with a 74% plastic pollution reduction, 40% associated Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emission reduction and an estimated 37% cost saving for the government as well as 26,000 new jobs created as compared to the Business-As-Usual. It was complemented by a dedicated Gender Equity and Social Inclusion analysis that looked at how plastic pollution affects marginalized communities and what would be the solutions they could benefit from the most.
Ms. Clemence Schmid, Director of the Global Plastic Action Partnership at the World Economic Forum, stated that “This roadmap is an inclusive, evidence-based and collaborative effort led by the Ministry of Environment. It sets out a clear national strategy to reduce plastic pollution and increase circularity to 52% by 2040. This transition is more than an environmental goal — it is a development opportunity that can create jobs, drive innovation and strengthen Cambodia's economic resilience.”
H.E. Dr. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, concluded: The plan is strategically aligned with the CLEAN pillar of the nation’s Circular Strategy on Environment 2023-2028, ensuring plastic reduction efforts are integrated into national environmental modernization goals. The core vision is to abandon the traditional “take-make-dispose” linear model and shift to a circular system where plastics remain within the economy and out of the environment.”
Learn more: Journey Towards a Circular Plastic Economy: Plastic Action Roadmap in Cambodia
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Chhunmuoy Ath, Communications Analyst, UNDP Cambodia at communications.kh@undp.org
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UNDP is the United Nations’ global development network advocating for change and connecting governments, private sector and civil society to knowledge, experience, and resources to end the injustice of poverty and inequality, accelerate inclusive growth, strengthen good governance and peace, and promote nature-based solutions and climate resilience. Present in over 170 countries and territories, we assist nations to implement their solutions for accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the people, the planet, and their prosperity. Learn more at https://www.undp.org/cambodia or follow us at @UNDPCambodia.
The Global Plastic Action Partnership is the World Economic Forum’s initiative uniting governments, businesses, and civil society to tackle plastic pollution and advance a circular economy. Through 25 country partnerships, GPAP translates commitments into action, scaling solutions that reduce plastic pollution, create economic opportunity and support sustainable, inclusive growth. Learn more at https://www.globalplasticaction.org