Making the case for banning single use plastics in Malawi

In 2015, Malawi became one of Africa’s first countries to impose a ban on plastic bags, following global concerns around the environmental damages caused by single-use plastics and joining a surge of policy instruments to deal with the issue in Africa.  However, this led to a backlash from the business community, who argued in court that the ban would lead to economic costs and job losses, following which Malawi stopped implementing the regulations in accordance with a court order.  Meanwhile, the Malawian government has signed and committed to the new United Nations Environment Assembly resolution on addressing single-use plastic products pollution. The country is now reconsidering its policies on plastics.   Anchor collaborated with the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust to prepare a report for the UNDP in Malawi.