Controlling Transboundary Trade in Plastic Waste

Export of G7 countries’ plastic waste overseas in 2017 and 2018 Export of G7 countries’ plastic waste overseas in 2017 and 2018 Figure 2

A t l a n t i c O c e a n A t l a n t i c O c e a n

France 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes) France 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes) Malaysia (38) Hong Kong (13) Malaysia (38) Hong Kong (13)

United States 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes) Malaysia (201) United States 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes) Malaysia (201)

China (78) Hong Kong (37) Malaysia (15) Viet Nam (6) India (2) China (78) Hong Ko g (37) Malaysia (15) Viet Nam (6) India (2)

1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

Malaysia (121) India (123) Malaysi ( 1) China (558) Hong Ko g (373) Viet Nam (137) India (123) China (558) Hong Kong (373) Viet Nam (137)

1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

Viet Nam (75) India (133) Hong Kong (121) Thailand (106) Viet Nam (75) Indi (133) Hong Kong (121) Thailand (106)

Taiwan (5) Viet Nam (12) Indonesia (8) Taiwan (5) Viet Nam (12) Indonesia (8)

United Kingdom 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes) United Kingdom 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes)

Italy 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes) Italy 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes)

Hong Kong (40) Malaysia (102) Turkey (80) Indonesia (72) Taiwan (50) Hong Kong (40) Malaysia (102) Turkey (80) Indonesia (72) Taiwan (50)

China (164) Malaysia (91) Hong Kong (78) Viet Nam (54) Turkey (41) China (164) Malaysia (91) Hong Kong (78) Viet Nam (54) Turkey (41)

1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

Canada 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes) Canada 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes)

Yemen (5) Malaysia (13) Turkey (7) China (6) Viet Nam (6) Yemen (5) Malaysia (13) Turkey (7) China (6) Viet Nam (6)

China (40) Yemen (9) China (40) Yemen (9) Saudi Arabia (7) United St tes (6) Viet Nam (6) Saudi Arabia (7) United States (6) Viet Nam (6)

1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

China (27) Honk Kong (23) Malaysia (11) Viet Nam (6) India (6) China (27) Honk Kong (23) Malaysia (11) Viet Nam (6) India ( )

Viet Nam (4) Malaysia (11) India (8) Hong Kong (7) Thailand (5) Viet Nam (4) Malaysia (11) India (8) Hong Kong (7) Thailand (5)

1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

Germany 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes) Germany 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes)

China (345) Hong Kong (99) Malaysia (75) Viet Nam (69) India (42) China (345) Hong Kong (99) Malaysia (75) Viet Nam (69) India (42)

Viet Nam (57) Malaysia (131) Hong Kong (72) India (67) Indonesia (64) Viet Nam (57) Malaysia (131) Hong Kong (72) India (67) I onesia (64)

1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

In 2018, 59 000 containers of plastic scrap were shipped from the United States and Canada to Asia In 2018, 59 000 containers of plastic scrap were shipped from the United States and Canada to Asia

Turkey +113% Turkey +113%

In 2018, approximately 70 000 containers of plastic scrap were shipped from France, the UK, Italy and Germany to Asia* In 2018, approximately 70 000 containers of plastic scra were shipped from France, the UK, Italy and Germany to Asia*

Since early 2018, China implemented restrictions on waste imports which effectively shifted the geography of plastic scrap trade. Since early 2018, China implemented restrictions on waste imports which effectively shifted the geography of plastic scrap trade.

I n d i a n O c e a n I n d i a n O c e a n

P a c i f i c O c e a n P a c i f i c O c e a n

2 2

Korea +211% Korea +211%

Import of plastic scrap from all G7 countries (2017, 2018)** Import of plastic scrap from all G7 countries (2017, 2018)**

Japan 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes) Japan 2017 2018 (’000 tonnes)

India +26% India +26%

China -93% China -93%

Malaysia (220) Thailand (188) Taiwan (177) Viet Nam (123) Korea (101) Malaysia (220) Thailand (188) Taiwan (177) Viet Nam (123) Korea (101)

China (749) Hong Kong (275) Viet Nam (126) Taiwan (91) Malaysia (75) China (749) Hong Ko g (275) Viet Nam (126) Taiwan (91) Malaysia (75)

1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5

1.5 million tonnes 1.5 million tonnes

Thailand +221% Thailand +221%

Taiwan +116% Taiwan +116%

Hong Kong -65% Hong Kong -65%

Viet Nam -26% Viet Nam -26%

1 1

Malaysia +82% Malaysia +82%

2017 2018 2017 2018

Indonesia +169% Indonesia +169%

0.5 0.5

decrease in exports from 2017 to 2018 increase in exports from 2017 to 2018 decrease in exports from 2017 to 2018 increase in exports from 2017 to 2018

0.25 0.1 0 0.25 0.1 0

* Based on data from Association of Plastic Recyclers on plastic bales density, we estimate that a 40 ft. container contains approximately 15 tonnes of plastic scrap. * Based on data from Association of Plastic Recyclers on plastic bales density, we estimate that 40 ft. ontainer contains approximately 15 onnes of pl stic scrap.

** Only countries and regions that imported > 0.1 mil. tonnes of plastic scrap in 2018 excluding G7 and EU countries. ** Only countries and regions that imported > 0.1 mil. tonnes of plasti scrap in 2018 excluding G7 and EU countries.

Sources: Eurostat, Japan e-Stat, Statistics Canada, Swiss Statistical Office, US Census Bureau, Blood (Financial Times, 2018). By Levi Westerveld & Philippe Rivière. GRID-Arendal (2019). Sources: Eurostat, Japan e-Stat, Statistics Canada, Swiss Statistical Office, US Census Bureau, Blood (Financial Times, 2018). By Levi Westerveld & Philippe Rivière. GRID-Arendal (2019).

9