Malaysia's progressive plastic bag bans at supermarkets, pharmacies, and petrol stations are real and meaningful. But environmental groups have pointed out a significant gap: the explosion in e-commerce and food delivery packaging is largely outside the scope of current regulations, and it is growing fast.
The delivery packaging problem
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) senior researcher Mageswari Sangaralingam stated the issue clearly: "We need to identify the various sectors that use single-use plastics, for example plastic bags, the food service industry, single-use plastics in packaging and many more. We cannot afford to ignore any area of the economy that is seeing heavy usage of disposable plastic bags and containers."
EcoKnights president Amlir Ayat added that while a typical supermarket visit results in one or two plastic bags, an online delivery for a single item can involve multiple layers of plastic — outer bags, bubble wrap, filler material, and inner packaging. The plastic footprint of a single online order can exceed that of several physical shopping trips.
Food delivery platforms and the packaging gap
Food delivery apps — Grab, Foodpanda, and others — have grown dramatically since 2020. Each order typically involves a plastic bag from the restaurant, plastic containers for food, and additional plastic to hold everything together during transit. None of this is currently covered by Malaysia's no-plastic-bag campaigns, which focus on fixed physical retail premises.
What regulators are considering
The federal government's Roadmap Towards Zero Single-Use Plastics 2018–2030 acknowledges that Phase 2 of implementation (2022–2025) would extend beyond supermarkets to include a broader range of business types. The growing EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) framework being developed for 2026 onwards is expected to address packaging across supply chains — including e-commerce.
What consumers and businesses can do now
For consumers: request no plastic packaging when ordering online where possible. Some platforms now allow you to opt for no cutlery or reduced packaging. For food businesses: switching from conventional plastic bags to compostable alternatives for takeaway and delivery orders addresses the gap without waiting for regulation. Certified compostable bags handle heat, oil, and liquid — the core requirements for food delivery packaging.
The regulation will eventually catch up with delivery and e-commerce. Businesses that act before it does will avoid both the cost of sudden compliance and the reputational damage of being caught on the wrong side of a well-publicised enforcement action.
