EU-ASEAN Dialogue on GreenTech & Innovation Mapping

18.02.2021

On 18 February 2021, a new webinar series on green technologies for plastic value chain management was launched in the context of the EU-ASEAN Dialogue on GreenTech supported by the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI).

 

Flash Report

 

E-READI: EU-ASEAN S&T Webinar Series

EU-ASEAN Dialogue on GreenTech & Innovation Mapping:

Green Technologies for Plastic Value Chain Management

 

On 18 February 2021, a new webinar series on green technologies for plastic value chain management was launched in the context of the EU-ASEAN Dialogue on GreenTech supported by the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI).​ The series aims to amplify awareness and promote EU-ASEAN technology cooperation and transfer.

The first meeting gathered virtually representatives from the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) and government representatives, experts in the scientific community, and private sector participants from the International Cooperation Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippines; the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Philippines; the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), Philippines; the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), Ecoloop, Republic Cement, Philippines; and the Science & Technology Division of the ASEAN Secretariat.

By providing a dialogue-forum for European and ASEAN stakeholders, the webinars facilitate discussions about state-of-the-art and future perspectives of plastic waste management and its key elements, including new technologies and solutions. Technology suppliers and users can meet here to lay the ground for future collaboration.

Today’s inaugural webinar focused on the End-of-Life (EOL) Approaches for Plastic Waste Management, including green technologies applicable for EOL management of plastic waste, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme, plastic neutrality approach in industries, and alternatives to incineration (e.g., co-processing for energy generation). The webinar was attended online by 760 participants from ASEAN Member States and the EU, and also from around the world, including Canada, Pakistan, China, India, and Japan, who joined via Zoom, YouTube, and Facebook. 

The first two sessions addressed Plastic Waste Management in the Philippines (the world's third-largest producer of plastic waste), where the environment is severely affected by landfills and ocean pollution; and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model approach, in which producers take on responsibility for the end of life of their products.

The second round of discussions addressed co-processing for residual waste in Thailand and the Philippines, particularly by turning it into alternative fuel. A key takeaway was the idea of piggybacking onto local solutions already in place as a best practice, for example, informal and local recycling programmes.

Overall, the speakers emphasised the need for multi-sectoral collaboration and region-to-region exchange, sharing what science, technology and innovation are doing to create useful and practical innovative solutions in plastic waste management.

In his closing remarks, Pierrick Fillon-Ashida, ASEAN Desk Officer, European Commission outlined: “Today’s exchange was insightful. The EU will prolong its commitment with the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Member States on the next steps. What was initiated is encouraging, but apart from looking at technological solutions, we must also highly consider the human factors, especially behavioral changes in this area of green-solutions.”

For more information, visit https://greentechtransfers.eu/