Plastic Waste in Malawi
Sustainable Tourism
Malawi faces significant challenges related to plastic pollution. With rapid waste generation, approximately 80% of the country’s plastic production is single-use and cannot be recycled. Despite a plastic bag ban in place since 2015, proper waste management remains a struggle, leading to environmental and health risks. Efforts to combat plastic pollution are crucial for the well-being of both Malawi’s ecosystems and its people, and this begins with producers taking responsibility for the products and packaging they produce.
SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
Malawi’s tourism industry is vital to its economy, drawing in over 2.5 million visitors annually due to its rich cultural heritage, wildlife, and stunning landscapes. Along with tourists comes single-use plastic waste. This sector alone generates up to 18% of all the plastic waste in Malawi. Single-use plastics such as food and beverage containers, straws, and toiletries are widely used in hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions. Discarded plastic often ends up in natural habitats, harming wildlife. Animals may ingest plastic debris, and drainage systems in urban and peri-urban areas get clogged with waste, leading to flash flooding, property damage and health risks from mosquitoes. By embracing sustainable practices, Malawi can ensure that its tourism sector remains a positive force for economic development while minimizing its environmental footprint.
PLASTIC WASTE-FREE HOTELS
Searious Business will provide training for participating hotels in Malawi, focusing on the prevention, minimization, and effective management of plastic waste. This training approach is informed by an analysis of successful practices and challenges faced by key stakeholders. Working closely with local counterparts—including the Africa Institute, the BRS Secretariat, the national project coordinator, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change—Searious Business aims to align training topics, methodologies, target groups, and timing. Data collection methods include desk research, semi-structured interviews, and an online survey. The goal is to enhance capacity development and promote circular plastics within Malawi’s tourism sector. Specific areas of focus include material flows, policy analysis, waste management gaps, and stakeholder readiness for change. Additionally, Searious Business will develop a targeted intervention plan for major participating hotels.
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