Reducing Plastic Pollution In Saudi Arabia: An Analysis Of Global Plastic Pollution Mitigation Policies And The Role Of Private/Ngo Sectors

Abstract

Plastic contamination has emerged as a worldwide issue in the past few years as a result of the high dependence on plastic materials. Saudi Arabia is affected by this issue and has barely any adequate strategy to fight it. This study was undertaken to analyze various policy instruments that mitigate plastic pollution and to understand the potential contributions of NGO and private sector involvement in Saudi Arabia toward this issue. Thus, it raises two questions: What multi-dimensional policies are identified globally for combating macroplastic pollution, and how do they perform against social, economic, environmental, and technical criteria? To what extent can the Saudi private sector’s and NGOs’ involvement contribute to reducing macroplastic waste? This study revealed a set of policy combinations that received the highest scores in the criteria. Additionally, it is significant as it taps into various stakeholders’ perspectives, exposing underlying challenges and visions, thereby providing a comprehensive outlook on the plastic pollution problem within Saudi Arabia. The study employed a mixed-method approach, and two phases were carried out. The first phase included a literature review to identify multi-dimensional policies implemented worldwide to combat macroplastic pollution and their social, economic, environmental, and technical performances. The policy instruments were: Ban & plastic limits (Regulatory), Tax & Cash for Return (Economic), and Education & Labeling (Informational). Afterward, Multi Criteria Analysis (MCA) tables were created for each instrument. In the second phase, eight experts from the private sector and NGOs in Saudi Arabia were interviewed to understand better how their efforts might impact consumer behavior and reduce macroplastic waste. After collecting data from the interviews, quantitative and qualitative data analyses were applied. The findings from the MCA tables showed higher scores for plastic limits, cash for return, and education. Additionally, the ban instrument received the lowest score (19 out of 30) among all categories, while education achieved the highest (23 out of 30). The outcomes from the quantitative and qualitative analyses of the interviews highlighted unanimous validation by NGO sector experts for a multi-stakeholder approach to creating effective plastic pollution reduction policies. Insights from private sector experts detailed the significant role of consumer behavior, stakeholder collaboration, and a multifaceted approach to pollution reduction. Challenges identified included potential conflicts between stakeholders, hesitations in policy making, and economic barriers. Expert interviews further expanded on effective strategies, focusing on education, awareness, regulation, and the use of industrial alternatives. The responses highlighted differences in priorities between the private sector and NGOs and emphasized the importance of collective action, community integration, and government support. These findings illustrate the complex factors in the effort to combat plastic pollution in Saudi Arabia. Further steps might include examining consumers’ perspectives and existing policies toward traditional plastic materials.