The circular economy has gained significant momentum in Southeast Asia given its potential to decouple economic growth from resource use while creating new jobs, unlocking investment opportunities, and enhancing regional competitiveness. Southeast Asian countries continuously adopt circular economy principles and practices in policies, business models, financing, and community engagement that fit diverse local contexts while advancing shared regional goals.

The EU Webinar Series on Circular Economy in Southeast Asia aims to serve as a strategic platform for regional dialogue and knowledge exchange between stakeholders from Southeast Asia and the European Union (EU), exploring how government, private sector, civil society, and academic stakeholders can co-create policies, financing mechanisms, and cross-border partnerships to scale up circular economy implementation across Southeast Asia.

This webinar series is implemented by GIZ through the European Union-Philippines Green Economy Partnership and Go Circular projects in collaboration with the PREVENT Waste Alliance.

SESSION 3

Mobilizing Private Sector Investment on EPR in Southeast Asia

⏰ 12 November 2026 at 4 pm (ASEAN Central Time) | 9.00 (Central European Time)

✍️ Where? Online via MS Teams

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) implementation has significantly advanced in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources reported that the national diversion rate for plastic waste reached 55.98% in 2025, exceeding the 40% target, with a total of 246 million kilograms of plastic waste diverted. However, local governments, municipalities, and waste operators continue to face significant gaps in access to financing, technologies, and infrastructure needed to scale up EPR implementation.

The third session of our EU Webinar Series on Circular Economy will explore how private sector investment can accelerate EPR implementation in Southeast Asia, particularly by bringing in the financing, technologies, and infrastructure needed to strengthen EPR systems. It will highlight investment opportunities and de-risking mechanisms across the EPR value chain and how national and local governments can attract investment. The session will also look at opportunities to engage European businesses in bringing innovative technologies, expertise, and investment to further advance EPR systems in the region.