Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy instrument that makes producers responsible for their products at the end of life. While the immediate objective of an EPR legislation would be to manage waste and reduce the environmental impact, the additional costs of compliance and waste management should trigger producers to make improvements in the product design itself. EPR system can also trigger many opportunities in material recovery and recycling, and hence more economic activity with relatively lower environmental and social externalities. Many countries around the world, but particularly in Asia Pacific, have or are in the process of legislating EPR.
The EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component (PSC) is implementing a Technical Advisory project entitled “Identifying Enablers for Effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) System in Asia Pacific Region: Drawing Lessons from Developed and Developing Countries in the EU and Asia” to support Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Kazakhstan and Pakistan to develop effective EPR policies with lessons learnt in the past 30 years in Europe.
For each country, a national report with baseline assessment of domestic policies and practices relating to EPR, such as waste management, circular economy, resource efficiency, and recommendations on making EPR more effective, is being developed. Draft reports are being discussed with stakeholders for validation, feedback, and advocacy.
A multi-stakeholder National Consultation Workshop for Thailand was organised on 4 March 2025, at the Sivatel Bangkok Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand. The consultation brought together 31 policymakers, academic experts, private sector representatives, and development partners to identify enabling factors for effective EPR systems in Thailand, advancing the country towards a circular economy.
The event opened with remarks from Dr. Zinaida Fadeeva, Team Leader of the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component, who emphasized the importance of aligning Thailand's waste management policies with circular economy principles. Mr. Hun Yang SOON, Founder of Eco-Ideal Consulting and Senior Expert for the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component from Malaysia, presented an overview of EPR initiatives and common characteristics in Asia, highlighting Thailand's role and potential.
Dr. Panate Manomaivibool from Burapha University, Senior EPR Expert for the SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component provided an extensive baseline analysis of Thailand's waste management landscape, identifying critical gaps highlighting key areas for improvement, including the needs to strengthen waste collection infrastructure, enhance the existing policies enforcement, and promote the inclusion of informal sector in overall waste management system.
Enablers for Effective Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems in Thailand
Discussions during the workshop identified enablers essential for Thailand’s EPR success, including:
- Clear institutional arrangements: The need for harmonised laws, cross-agency coordination, and governance reform.
- Policy and legal frameworks: Draft EPR laws need to be fast-tracked, with stronger regulatory enforcement and mandatory product design standards to support circularity. Policy champion is also important to encourage the EPR.
- Incorporation of the informal sector: Waste collectors and recyclers from the informal sector must be formally integrated into the system to enhance collection efficiency and ensure safe handling.
- Infrastructure and technology investments: Private sector investments in advanced recycling technologies and modern waste management facilities are important.
- Public participation: Expanding community-level initiatives such as waste banks and source separation campaigns can significantly enhance material recovery.
- Pilot projects and partnerships: Collaborative projects involving brands, government agencies, and international partners were highlighted as effective platforms to test EPR models and refine practical solutions.
The country report for Thailand will be finalised by the end of March 2025, followed by a regional workshop to share lessons learned from the five countries and formulate policy recommendations for governments in the Asia Pacific region. Follow-up technical advisory projects will be identified, potentially on secondary raw materials and product design.
