The Story of Amiyna
Understanding the role of identity in the plastic economy
Why does gender
matter in the plastic economy?
Gender equity is essential for transforming the plastic industry into a sustainable sector that benefits both people and the planet. Women are pivotal in plastic consumption, entrepreneurship, resource management, and waste disposal, highlighting the need to prioritize their livelihoods in solutions.
Women make up 70-80% of consumer purchasing decisions worldwide, including those related to household plastics, highlighting their influence in driving demand for sustainable products. Gender-sensitive strategies for policy-makers and business leaders in the plastics value chain naturally compliment efforts to transition to a more sustainable and circular plastics economy.
A city drowning in plastic
Amiyna’s life is intricately shaped by gendered roles and systemic inequalities that ripple through the plastics value chain and her society. She lives in a sprawling city where single-use plastics are a constant presence—clogging waterways, littering streets, and blowing into her neighborhood like uninvited guests. On the outskirts, towering heaps of imported plastic waste loom, a stark reminder of a global problem disproportionately burdening her community.
Economic burdens
Amiyna wakes each morning to the challenges of poverty, navigating a world where opportunities are scarce, and ethnic stereotypes confine her to the margins of society. To support her livelihood, she works as a waste picker, sifting through mountains of discarded plastic with bare hands. The work is grueling and exposes her to sharp objects, toxic fumes, and the harsh glare of societal judgment. Her efforts, though vital to recycling and waste management, go largely unnoticed, as if her labor is as disposable as the plastics she sorts.
Determination for a better future
Yet, Amiyna carries a quiet determination. She dreams of a world where solutions to plastic pollution are as bold as they are inclusive, where women like her are valued, not just for their labor but for their voices. She imagines safe working conditions, fair wages, and a seat at the table where decisions about her community and environment are made
Breaking the cycle
For Amiyna, tackling plastic pollution isn’t just about cleaning up waste; it’s about dismantling the barriers that keep her and millions of others trapped in cycles of poverty and invisibility.
Meanwhile, women like Amiyna and her family have always been confined to informal, precarious work, juggling unpaid domestic duties with waste picking. This disparity reflects the societal norms that prioritize men’s access to secure employment while leaving women to shoulder the double burden of care work and hazardous labor, all without recognition or protection.
Formal jobs exist, but Amiyna has never considered applying due to perception that “dirty” or physically demanding jobs are reserved for men. The inflexible hours of formal jobs would prevent Amiyna from fulfilling the unpaid domestic duties expected of her. She has also only seen men in these roles, and both she and her family worry about harassment in all-male work environment as well as practical issues like the lack of women’s facilities.
Plastic pollution and exposure impact women’s and men’s health differently due to gender roles and women’s higher body fat content, which makes them more vulnerable to harmful chemicals. Women often work in lower-paid, less-skilled positions in production plants, increasing their exposure to toxic chemicals.
Additionally, the informal economy, of which many women are employed, lack national occupational health and safely protection and social protection benefit.
Although the government provides disposable menstrual products, Amiyna doesn't receive them because she neither attends school nor works in a formal setting.
Amiyna’s small community is often overlooked in such governmental planning processes. Some community members believe their exclusion is due to their status as an ethnic minority group that lacks respect and representation from the majority population and government.
As an adult with with a family of her own, Amiyna juggles multiple roles. In addition to her work in waste collection and sorting, she handles all household duties (shopping, cooking and cleaning) while caring for her children, husband and parents-in-law, following the traditions of her community.
Much of womens’ informal economy work is unpaid family labour, which limits their availability for formal sector work. Tasks such as cooking, cleaning, childcare and eldercare consume a substantial amount of their time and do not provide financial compensation.
Women tend to make the majority of household purchasing decisions, positioning them as key targets for sustainable products.
However, the same responsibilities that grant them purchasing power also restrict their time, compelling them to opt for more convenient (yet potentially harmful) products. This can also affect how they dispose of waste, often leading to improper disposal practices that exacerbate environmental issues.
