Malaysia’s push toward sustainable plastics is guided by the Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018–2030, a national initiative aimed at tightening control over plastic materials and environmental claims. Supporting this direction, the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre has emphasised the need for clearer certification to address misleading “biodegradable” claims in the market.
A key milestone in this effort was the introduction of SIRIM ECO 001:2018, which marked a decisive shift toward stricter, science-based criteria. More recently, SIRIM ECO 098:2023 was developed to improve the consistency and governance of environmental claims in the marketplace.
From Broad Definitions to Scientific Rigor
The earlier SIRIM ECO 001:2016 adopted a broad definition of “degradable plastics,” which included oxo-degradable and photo-degradable materials. However, it did not fully account for how these plastics behave after disposal. In practice, many of these materials simply fragmented into microplastics, persisting in the environment despite being marketed as eco-friendly.
The 2018 revision fundamentally corrected this gap. By recognising only biodegradable and compostable plastics—and explicitly excluding oxo- and photo-degradable materials—SIRIM ECO 001:2018 established a far more scientifically grounded standard.
It goes beyond classification. The standard requires proper end-of-life handling, including segregation and disposal in controlled systems such as composting facilities. More critically, it ensures true biodegradability, where materials break down into natural elements like water, carbon dioxide, and biomass, rather than fragmenting into microplastics. The Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Centre has reinforced this distinction, making it clear that only genuinely biodegradable materials qualify for eco-labelling.
SIRIM ECO 001:2018 vs SIRIM ECO 098:2023
While both standards play a role in Malaysia’s sustainability framework, they serve fundamentally different purposes—and are not equivalent in environmental impact.
SIRIM ECO 001:2018 is a material-based standard. It determines whether a plastic is genuinely biodegradable and environmentally safe at the end of its life cycle. In this sense, it directly influences environmental outcomes by preventing microplastic pollution and ensuring proper decomposition.
In contrast, SIRIM ECO 098:2023 is primarily a labelling and claims-related standard. Its role is to improve how environmental attributes are communicated, ensuring that claims are clearer, more consistent, and less prone to misuse.
This distinction is critical. While SIRIM ECO 098:2023 enhances transparency in the market, it does not replace or exceed the environmental rigor of SIRIM ECO 001:2018. The latter remains the core benchmark for environmental integrity, as it governs the actual behaviour of materials in real-world conditions.
Why SIRIM ECO 001:2018 Is Better for the Environment
The environmental strength of SIRIM ECO 001:2018 lies in its scientific and lifecycle-based approach. By excluding oxo-degradable plastics—materials that merely fragment into smaller particles—it directly addresses one of the biggest hidden threats in plastic pollution: microplastics.
This ensures that certified materials do not just appear sustainable, but actually deliver measurable environmental benefits. In contrast, standards focused on labelling alone cannot guarantee how materials behave after disposal.
By enforcing true biodegradability and proper disposal pathways, SIRIM ECO 001:2018 plays a more decisive role in:
- Reducing long-term environmental pollution
- Preventing microplastic accumulation in ecosystems
- Supporting safe and effective organic waste treatment systems
Supporting a Circular Plastics Economy
As Malaysia advances toward a circular plastics economy, the importance of getting material standards right becomes even more critical. Materials must not only be labelled correctly but must also follow the appropriate end-of-life pathways.
In this context, SIRIM ECO 001:2018 provides the environmental foundation, ensuring that materials are compatible with composting and other recovery systems. SIRIM ECO 098:2023, while important, plays a supporting role by improving how these attributes are communicated to the market.
Final Thoughts
The transition from SIRIM ECO 001:2016 to 2018 represents a significant step forward in environmental protection, grounded in scientific accuracy and real-world impact. While SIRIM ECO 098:2023 enhances transparency and governance, it is SIRIM ECO 001:2018 that sets the true environmental benchmark.
By focusing on how materials actually behave—not just how they are labelled—Malaysia is reinforcing a critical principle:
“Biodegradable” must reflect genuine environmental performance, not just marketing claims.
Getting this distinction right is essential to reducing plastic pollution and building a credible, future-ready sustainable materials ecosystem.