The Malaysian Productivity Centre ( MPC ) surveyed 500 executives across diverse sectors including plastics and resins , and the findings indicated that only 7 % of the respondents are currently adopting circular economy practices . The majority are still planning to shift towards a circular economy ( 80 %), while 10 % are in the phase of learning more about the circular economy before implementing and 3 % of the respondents are not considering circular economy practices at all .
Based on Figure 3 , the general challenges to fully implement the circular economy in plastic waste management include : the absence of an Extended Producer Responsibility ( EPR ) scheme , inadequate and incoherent policies on plastic consumption and disposal , absence of macro data to monitor plastic production , consumption , and treatment , as well as limited responsible investment for innovative small or medium enterprises ( SME ). Specifically , challenges are also categorised as upstream , midstream and downstream , which are detailed as follows :
1 . Upstream a . Lack of circularity integration in corporate decision making , b . Lack of clarity on using recycled plastic material in food grade applications , and c . Lack of research and development
( R & D ) in plastic design . 2 . Mid-stream a . Lack of awareness of sustainable consumption , and b . Consumer price sensitivity to alternative products .
3 . Downstream a . Unsatisfactory quality of the municipal waste stream , b . Unsatisfactory enforcement of policies , c . Limited recycling facilities , and d . Lack of alternative end-of-life solutions for municipal solid waste .
Thus , to successfully implement a plastic circular economy , these challenges must be met with the availability of a stable supply of highquality plastic as feedstock , increase in material recovery facilities to improve their output , adoption of standards for designing plastics so that they can be recycled , and recycled content and standards for major plastics used in industries .
The implementation of circular economy approaches has resulted in societal , environmental , and economic benefits across various parts of the world including China , Japan , and Europe . Their success stories have a stream of processes including ‘ top-down ’ and ‘ bottom-up ’ approaches [ 9 ].
The ‘ Top-down ’ Circular Economy approaches in Malaysia
The ‘ Top-down ’ approach involves policy intervention and the “ Bottom-up ” approach involves capacity building , people ’ s participation , promotion and use of appropriate technologies and private sector participation [ 9 ]. The combination of these two approaches and the successful implementation of circular economic practices will help in realising the vision of a circular economy in plastic waste management in Malaysia [ 10 ].
Many ‘ Top-down ’ initiatives of the circular economy that can be seen in Malaysia are primarily driven by Government ’ s effort , especially by the relevant Ministries . Several examples are included in Table 1 .
The ‘ Bottom-up ’ Circular Economy approaches in Malaysia
The ‘ Bottom-Up ’ circular economy approaches are more effective in Malaysia as the relevant stakeholders and companies set up their plans , which are in their control in terms of execution capability . Many companies started with initiatives that ranged from awareness programmes to the improvement of technologies , which enable the development of new products through the recovery of waste . Some of the circular economy implementations resulting from the ‘ Bottom-Up ’ approaches in Malaysia are tabulated in Table 2 .
THE WAY FORWARD
It is undeniable that both ‘ top-down ’ and ‘ bottomup ’ approaches should synergise effectively to boost plastic waste transition to a circular economy for Malaysia . Although the Government
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