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This document provides a summary of the available literature on the key sources and locations of marine plastics. It also looks at what is currently being done to address the problem of marine plastics and summarises existing policy responses in order to lay the groundwork for future action.

While plastic pollution is a global problem, around 60 percent of marine plastic debris enters the ocean from just five countries: China, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. This report focuses on the challenge of managing plastic packaging waste in Southeast Asia and China. In addition to showing the scale of the challenge, the report gives an idea of the funds that could be raised if these countries introduced extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes, under which companies that place plastic packaging on the market cover the costs of its proper management—from collection and sorting to recycling and disposal.