By Chisomo Phiri
As the Malawi government moves forward with plans to ban single-use plastics, the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) is urging stakeholders to start exploring alternative solutions.
According to Save Kumwenda, head of the Public and Environmental Health Sciences Department at MUBAS, it is crucial for researchers, plastic manufacturers, government officials, and the general public to work together to find sustainable alternatives to plastics.
Kumwenda made these remarks on the sidelines of the African Plastic Pollution and Planetary Health (AP3) Research Network’s inaugural symposium in Blantyre.
He emphasized that the time for alternatives is now, as the plastic ban debate has been ongoing since 2011.
Said Kumwenda:”Industries will always resist change, but we need to be serious about finding solutions.”
On his part,project team leader Kondwani Chidziwisano explained that the network which was launched in January 2023, seeks to address the global challenges posed by plastic pollution and planetary health, particularly in Africa.
He said through research, policy briefs, and knowledge sharing, the network hopes to find sustainable solutions to these pressing issues.
Said Chidziwisano:”AP3 aims to bring together experts from various fields to conduct research on plastic pollution and planetary health.”
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