Who pays for the plastic?

The Maldives is shifting the true cost of pollution away from taxpayers and putting it exactly where it belongs: on the supply chain.

For decades, managing plastic waste in a fragmented island nation was treated as a consumer problem. But under aggressive new legal frameworks like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and stricter single-use plastic regulations, the rules of the game are completely changing for local businesses and importers. From micro-packaging bans to heavy financial penalties for compliance violations, the era of "sell and forget" is officially over.

Swipe through to see the new financial stakes, upcoming policy deadlines, and how homegrown brands are already scrambling to adapt.

👇 What do you think about these new rules? Let’s discuss in the comments.