The Secretary of State for the Environment, Demétrio de Amaral de Carvalho, participated on behalf of the Government in an initiative to promote solutions to reduce plastic use in Timor-Leste.
The “Less Plastic, More Quality of Life” Seminar
The seminar entitled “Less Plastic, More Quality of Life” was held on 19 September 2018 in the Orchid Hall of Timor-Plaza in Dili. It was organised by Scope Asia Timor-Leste in partnership with:
- Kmanek and Ce’mill — national companies
- Avani — an Indonesian company producing ecological and biodegradable alternatives to plastic
Government’s Position on Plastic Waste
At the opening of the seminar, the Secretary of State for the Environment highlighted the urgency of action:
“Between 18 and 20 percent of the waste that goes to the bin of Tibar is plastic. If we reduce the plastic we will be able to minimise the amount of garbage that goes to the sea and to the streams.”
Demétrio de Amaral de Carvalho outlined the economic case for change, noting that companies in Timor-Leste annually spend approximately $200,000 on plastic bags and could save $1.5–$2 million through the implementation of a Zero Plastic Policy.
He also confirmed that the Government was in contact with the private sector to identify alternative products, with plans to present a moratorium on the import of plastic and its replacement by alternative materials to the Council of Ministers before the end of December 2018.
Timor-Leste’s Ambition: World’s First Plastic-Neutral Nation
The Secretary of State announced the Government’s intention to implement a “Zero Plastic Policy”, describing it as a sustainable strategy for businesses and a key step toward Timor-Leste becoming the world’s first plastic-neutral nation.
Speakers and Presentations
The seminar brought together government officials, former heads of state, and industry representatives. Key presentations included:
| Speaker | Organisation | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| Demétrio de Amaral de Carvalho | Secretary of State for the Environment | Government policy on plastic reduction |
| José Ramos-Horta | Former President of the Republic | Vision on the global plastic problem |
| Kevin Kumala | AVANI | New ideas to reduce plastic use; cassava as an ecological solution |
| Clarence Lim | KMANEK | Local market and reduction of plastic consumption |
| Dahlia Bernardo | Scope Asia Timor | Water consumption without plastic bottles; EcoBox for organic waste, biogas and organic fertiliser |
The event also featured the screening of a video produced by USAID Timor-Leste titled “The Sea That Sustains Us”.
Reactions and Calls for Coordination
Former President José Ramos-Horta expressed satisfaction with the Government’s environmental direction:
“Timor as a state, as a nation and as a community, has to carry out its own initiatives to solve the problem of plastic, but also the problem of cutting trees, buildings and garbage along the streams.”
Responding to journalists, Secretary of State Carvalho called for greater coordination among ministries and less overlap of authority on environmental issues. He noted that the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals supplements the Secretary of State for the Environment in assessing environmental issues related to the oil and mineral resources sector.