Single-use plastic bag policies in the Southern African development community

摘要: Abstract The growing visibility of plastic pollution, particularly negative environmental impacts single-use bags, has entered the political debate, triggering policy interventions to control its manufacturing and use. This trend was also felt in Southern Africa, a region with high urbanization, leading increased resource use consumption, heavily reliant on tourism, an industry highly impacted by pollution. paper reviews existing bag reduction policies African Development Community (SADC). All 16 SADC members have announced policy, but vary stages implementation. Waste management emerged as most important driver over 55% adopted top-down approach developing these address challenges. Most did not conduct public awareness campaigns, raising effectiveness issues. Further research effective development, enforcement monitoring would knowledge gap.