Eco-Business

As Malaysia prepares to move from voluntary to mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR), Annupa Mattu Ahi of Tomra said the success of the country’s recycling transformation will depend on whether policymakers can establish a framework that holds producers accountable while giving businesses the certainty to invest.

In a bid to control the excessive use of plastic bottles, Sri Lanka banned single-use plastic water bottles at government institutions effective 31 May and recently introduced a mandatory fee for polyethylene shopping bags to discourage their use.

Exclusive Singapore-based circular clothing enterprise Cloop said it does not want to encourage dumping of cheap, disposable clothing that cannot be resold.

The brand says used shoes will be donated or recycled in its first returns scheme in Southeast Asia. Observers raise questions about traceability and incentives that could drive consumption.

By Robin Hicks

By Tyler Roney

By Taejun Kang

By Zofeen Ebrahim

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The treaty negotiations risk repeatedly stalling unless the decision-making process is overhauled, argues INC-5 observer Terese Teoh. By Terese Teoh

Restricting primary or virgin plastic production would constrain economic growth and industrialisation, India argued at the recent plastic treaty talks. But its opposition to production caps may turn out to be more damaging than beneficial. By Sherley Hepsiba Dokiburra

Critical minerals recovered from e-waste through established recycling systems can become a vital domestic source of essential minerals for India. By Vaibhav Chowdhary, Animesh Ghosh and Debraj Bhattacharjee

Vietnam has ambitious targets to tackle the challenge posed by plastic waste. Effective enforcement and implementation are key for success. By Nguyen Khac Giang

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The impact documentary exploring Asia's mounting waste crisis – and its solutions – is now streaming exclusively for Eco-Business subscribers.

Launched as policymakers lock horns with petrochemicals lobbyists over a treaty to end plastic pollution, the documentary produced by Eco-Business asks why opportunities to solve humanity's waste crisis are being wasted. It will premiere in Singapore and screen on the sidelines of the upcoming COP28 climate summit.

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Amid back‑to‑back trash slides and a landfill fire in one of Southeast Asia’s leakiest waste systems, Philippine environment undersecretary Jonas Leones touts new science‑based safeguards for a waste‑to‑energy buildout in the country.

Former Yale-NUS environmental social sciences professor Michael Maniates tells the Eco-Business Podcast that individual actions like going vegetarian, reducing plastic use or avoiding air travel are not only insufficient to address the climate crisis – they are counterproductive.

A small-scale miner in Bicol, Philippines

Critical minerals will be central to this year’s Asean meetings, said environment assistant secretary Noralene Uy, as the Philippines ushers the region towards domestic processing as summit chair.

L'Occitane's Asia Pacific director of sustainability Venisa Chu

The Asia Pacific ESG head of the B Corp-certified cosmetics firm says refill stations have been disappointing and getting suppliers on board with decarbonisation is difficult, but her team has not been affected by the ESG backlash.

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