SWITCH-Asia

WHEN:  28 May 2025     I    TIME:  14:00 - 15:30 (Bangkok Time)    I    Register  HERE

Background:

In February 2025, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation entered into force with new measures to prevent packaging waste, promote reuse and further tackle the environmental challenges caused by excessive packaging. It will significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions, water use and environmental impacts from the packaging sector. In parallel, the regulation will create opportunities for reuse and refill systems as well as for recycling. It is an important step towards a more competitive, sustainable and circular economy for the EU.

The new measures aim to develop a single market for waste, secondary and reusable materials; promote recycling; and reduce dependency on primary resources. They include promoting reuse and refill as alternatives to single-use packaging and improving consumer. Packaging will be more sustainable and enable consumers to reuse and sort their packaging waste more effectively, with solutions customised to the specific needs of Member States and businesses. The regulation will thus enhance resource efficiency and boost the circular use of materials.

In effect, the EU has moved from recycling promotion measure to a series of far-reaching packaging design changes set as a minimum condition of market access. It addresses economic operator directly and obliges them to make changes that may fundamentally alter their entire packaging portfolio and strategy. The Regulation introduces binding measures on prevention, reuse, and recycled content while making recyclability and recycling at scale a minimum requirement.

The new Regulation has a broad reach and will have real economic impact. Any company that uses packaging to distribute, handle or import goods into the EU, or that supplies or imports packaging or packaging materials, is affected. How will this change the products made in Asia and imported to EU but also those that are placed on Asian markets?

Webinar Session:

The EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component and the European Environment Bureau, are convening the webinar, The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation: a source of inspiration for the Asia-Pacific Region to:

• Present the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
• Understand what is means for the Asia-Pacific region
• Present what is expected in the coming years, what opportunities will arise from this new Regulation and more generally from circular economy perspectives for the packaging value chain.

Speakers

Marco MUSSO, Deputy Policy Manager for Circular Economy, European Environmental Bureau

Marco works on circular economy and green fiscal reform, leading EEB work on fiscal, financial and economic instruments for the green transition as well as on policies to prevent packaging waste. He holds a double-degree Master of Science in European Governance from Utrecht University and the University College of Dublin as well as a Bachelor of International studies, Development and Cooperation from the University of Turin. Prior to joining the EEB, he worked on circular economy policies for the European Organisation for Packaging and the Environment and in the European Parliament.

Fernando Rodríguez-Mata, Director General of the New European Reuse Alliance (New ERA)

Fernando is the Director General of the New European Reuse Alliance (New ERA) from its inception at the end of 2022. He has nearly ten years of experience in association management, circular economy and packaging matters from his past work in two public affairs firms in Brussels and Madrid. He holds a Double Degree in Law and Business Administration from the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and obtained a Master in European Law at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. 

Wisarut Chalee, Founder & CEO, Rewastec

Mr Wisarut Chalee is the Founder and CEO of Rewastec, a startup established in 2021 that pioneers material innovation through plastic recycling and circular economy design. A graduate in Polymer Engineering from Suranaree University of Technology, he focuses on turning plastic and agricultural waste into value-added products. Rewastec collaborates with retailers, municipalities, and universities to build closed-loop waste systems, supporting the transition from a linear to a circular economy.

Pranshu Singhal, Founder, Karo Sambhav

Pranshu is the Founder of Karo Sambhav which was setup in 2017 with the aim of ‘Making Circular Economy Possible’. Karo Sambhav has been creating a grass-root ecosystem to set up a robust India-wide solution on collection, recycling and secondary material management of multiple types of waste including e-waste, plastics waste, batteries waste, glass waste. He was conferred ‘Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 India’ award by the Schwab Foundation, World Economic Forum. He has worked as Director, Digital Learning for Microsoft and as Head, Sustainability for Nokia. He is a Ashoka Fellow, a Aspen Fellow, a Schwab Fellow, a Chevening Gurukul Fellow, a Ikea, and a Aspire Fellow. He has a Master’s in Environmental Management and Policy from International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), Sweden.

Agenda