Driving Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Policy in ASEAN

Driving Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Policy in ASEAN

On 25 November 2025, the ASEAN Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ACESP) team held a constructive high-level meeting with the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) at the Danish Embassy in Bangkok. The purpose was to review the significant progress of the ASEAN Circular Economy Stakeholder Network Analysis – Focus on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Project.

This collaborative project, initiated on 1 August 2025, in partnership with the Sustainable Environmental Research Institute (SERI), Chulalongkorn University, is generating an evidence-based understanding of EPR systems across the region. The goal is to support effective policy development and stronger regional cooperation for a Circular Economy in ASEAN.

Phase 1/2025 Key Milestones: Building the EPR Framework

The project successfully completed several critical foundational activities in its first phase:

• EPR Comparative Database: Developed a comprehensive database compiling all existing EPR policies across ASEAN Member States. This is a foundational resource for future analysis.
• Analytical Framework & Tools: Designed a standardized data collection tool to guide the forthcoming field research and ensure consistent data capture across the region.
• In-Depth Comparative Analysis: Initiated detailed comparison of EPR policies across 6 key ASEAN countries: Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.
  1. This analysis covers national legal frameworks (e.g., Singapore’s Resource Sustainability Act, the Philippines’ EPRA), product categories, mandated roles of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), and financial mechanisms.
  2. Preliminary findings highlight significant institutional diversity, with Singapore possessing the most established PRO system.
• Stakeholder Mapping Tool: Developed and piloted a refined Social Network Analysis (SNA) survey tool. The tool is specifically designed to map stakeholder dynamics across five key dimensions:
  1. Financial resource flows
  2. Knowledge exchange
  3. Social relationships
  4. Political influence
  5. Material flows
• Regional Engagement: The consultant team actively participated in the ASEAN Circular Economy Forum 2025 (ACEF2025) in Kuala Lumpur. This critical engagement deepened understanding and informed the analysis and data collection strategy by connecting with relevant policymakers and stakeholders.

Next Steps: Implementation & Policy Action

The meeting with DEPA also focused on the strategic pathways for translating these research findings into actionable policy recommendations and how ACESP can best be leveraged for regional dissemination and stakeholder engagement across ASEAN.

We extend a special note of appreciation to Mr. Martin Schneekloth, Sector Counsellor on Circular Economy, and Mr. Jens Nytoft Rasmussen, the Project Manager of DEPA, for their steadfast guidance and support in driving this crucial regional initiative toward a more sustainable future for Southeast Asia.