President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has on Thursday, approved a proposed plan by the Ministry of Environment to phase out single-use plastics in the Maldives by the year 2023. Prior to his approval the plan had been endorsed by his Cabinet of Ministers.

President Solih initially announced the Government's intention to phase out single-use-plastics from the Maldives by the year 2023, during his maiden trip to the United Nations General Assembly, to attends its 74th session, held in New York in 2019. This pledge is reiterated in the Government's 2019-2023 Strategic Action Plan (SAP).

Single-use plastics or disposable plastics are items intended for one-time purposes only, regardless of whether they are recyclable, labelled as bioplastics, biodegradable or compostable. The plan envisions the Maldives' seas to be rid of plastic pollution by the year 2023.