ACSDSD-SERI Report – Maps Circular Economy and EPR Networks Across ASEAN, Highlighting Regional Readiness and Integration Gaps
BANGKOK, THAILAND — A new progress report published by the Sustainable Environment Research Institute (SERI) at Chulalongkorn University, commissioned by the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD), reveals a detailed landscape of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) readiness and circular economy (CE) stakeholder networks across Southeast Asia.
The report, titled Social Network Analysis (SNA)–ASEAN Circular Economy and EPR Stakeholder Mapping Project, examines how information, financial resources, and regulatory mandates flow through member states as the region works toward the commitments outlined in the ASEAN Declaration on Plastic Circularity (2024) and the ASEAN Economic Community Strategic Plan 2026–2030.
A Three-Tiered Landscape of EPR Readiness
Combining a regional desk review across all 11 ASEAN Member States (AMS) with in-depth quantitative Social Network Analysis (SNA), online surveys, and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) focused on Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the report categorizes member nations into three distinct operational stages:
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Early (Initial) Stage (Timor-Leste, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam): Producer responsibility remains primarily a policy concept. These countries lack dedicated EPR legislation or formal voluntary schemes, addressing sustainability indirectly through general municipal waste strategies or circular economy roadmaps.
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Intermediate Stage (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia): EPR principles are actively tested and institutionalized via national roadmaps, public-private partnerships, and voluntary Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) initiatives (such as MAREA in Malaysia and IPRO in Indonesia), while governments finalize mandatory frameworks.
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Advanced Stage (Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines): EPR is legally binding with statutory producer targets. However, execution models differ—from Vietnam’s mandatory packaging EPR (effective January 2024) to Singapore’s targeted product-specific schemes and the Philippines’ plastic footprint recovery obligations under its EPR Act of 2022.
Key Findings & Systemic Challenges
The study reveals that regulatory maturity does not automatically translate into uniform enforcement or operational strength:
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Enforcement Disparities: While Vietnam has mandated packaging EPR and the Philippines enforces plastic footprint reduction, other nations face compliance lags. For example, local interviews indicate that as of mid-2026, fewer than 30 producers were fully compliant under Indonesia’s mandatory regulation.
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Centrality of PROs: Producer Responsibility Organizations are pivotal operational hubs for fee collection, recycling target management, and auditing. However, their official legal recognition varies widely—ranging from licensed system operators in Singapore to unaccredited industry platforms in emerging markets.
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The Informal Sector Inclusion Gap: Informal waste workers and waste pickers collect a significant portion of post-consumer waste across the region but remain largely excluded from formal EPR financing, governance, and safety nets.
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Shared Regional Hurdles: Fragmented governance, lack of waste management infrastructure outside major metropolitan areas, limited access to capital for SMEs, low public awareness, and inconsistent data systems hamper cross-border benchmarking.
Strategic Roadmap for ASEAN
To accelerate the region’s circular transition in alignment with ASEAN Vision 2045, the report outlines eight key actionable recommendations:
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Phased Legislation: Develop clear, step-by-step mandatory EPR legal frameworks.
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PRO Recognition: Formally accredit and strengthen Producer Responsibility Organizations.
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Digital MRV: Establish harmonized digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems.
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Eco-Modulated Financing: Implement eco-modulated fee structures to incentivize sustainable packaging design.
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Inclusive Integration: Create flexible mechanisms to integrate informal waste actors into formal recycling supply chains.
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Decentralized Infrastructure: Invest in collection and recycling capacity beyond urban capitals.
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Public Engagement: Sustained public education campaigns on source segregation and waste reduction.
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Regional Harmonization: Leverage ASEAN platforms to standardize definitions, reporting, and policy capacity building.
Link for the full report, please click here
About the Partner Institutions
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ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD): ACSDSD promotes sustainable development cooperation and dialogue across ASEAN member states, facilitating research, policy coordination, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
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Sustainable Environment Research Institute (SERI), Chulalongkorn University: Based in Bangkok, Thailand, SERI is a leading environmental research institute dedicated to advancing evidence-based solutions in circular economy, waste governance, and environmental sustainability.