The Royal Thai Embassy in Brussels invited three EU experts to Thailand from 4-8 September 2023 to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices with regards to policy and implementation in Circular Economy and the Extended Producer Responsibility in Packaging. The visit is aimed to prepare all Thai stakeholders towards enhancing competitiveness while complying with international environmental standards.

The workshop and the focus-group discussion were well-attended by over 80 participants, who are members of Thailand’s National Steering Committee on Packaging EPR (comprising representatives from the public and private sectors and academia), as well as representatives from the diplomatic corps and several international development organizations working in the field. The expert met with Mr. Pornprom Vikitset, Advisor of the Bangkok Metropolitan Governor (Environment), made a field visit to the Wongpanit Suvarnabhumi Recycling Station, and also gave interviews to Thai media.

Thailand is drafting a law on packaging EPR with a view to establishing a mandatory EPR system by 2027. Extensive discussions were held on the policy tool to make producers responsible for waste management costs of their products, incentivize waste reduction and more recycling, and initiate incentives in other areas.

The Workshop was organized in collaboration with the Pollution Control Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), the Thailand Institute of Packaging and Recycling Management for Sustainable Environment (TIPMSE) under the Federation of Thai Industries, and the German Agency for International Development (GIZ) and EXPRA