Extended Producer Responsibility Concept, Market-based Recycling Among Highlights In ASEAN Media Workshop
JAKARTA, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- The implementation of extended producer responsibility (EPR) and market-based recycling system in ASEAN were among the key highlights raised at the Southeast Asia environmental workshop for media practitioners held here.
Senior economist at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) Michikazu Kojima said only a few ASEAN member countries have implemented EPR so far.
Kojima, who is also the senior research fellow specialising in environmental issues, especially waste management and recycling, said there is "increasing awareness between member states" on the importance of EPR.
"Among the countries which have implemented EPR policies on plastics are Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam," he said at a workshop themed "From Pollution to Solutions: Reporting on Plastic Pollution with Impact".
The Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, which is part of ERIA, hosted the inaugural workshop to drive more impactful reporting on plastic pollution and related issues within ASEAN.
EPR is a concept in which producers need to be responsible for the entire life cycle of their products until their eventual disposal.
For Malaysia, the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) launched the circular economy policy framework in Sept last year, to reformulate fossil-fuel-based industrial models and catalyse green growth practices across the manufacturing value chain.
The framework also outlined EPR as a key strategy.
Malaysia is currently the chair of ASEAN.
The workshop which ended on Wednesday, also looked at the transboundary issue of plastic pollution and how journalists could explore innovative and effective ways to communicate science and data into storytelling, particularly on plastic pollution issues.
Participating journalists from nine ASEAN countries also visited the ASEAN Secretariat to broaden and deepen their understanding of the grouping’s various initiatives on sustainability and climate change.
-- BERNAMA