ADB Data Room: Circular Economy 20 April 2022 The Circular Economy is an emerging theme internationally. A Circular Economy is a systemic approach to decouple economic development and activity from consuming finite resources. A Circular Economy will allow ADB to tackle global environmental challenges, including climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, waste, and pollution, while supporting economic development and reducing poverty. Circular Economy related policy and legislation are actively being developed and implemented across our Developing Member Countries (DMCs) and have become a central theme for many of ADB’s funding sources. Circular Economy will be a central facet of implementing the Global Plastics Treaty recently agreed upon at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) 5.2 in Nairobi. The finance framework included in the draft agreement offers huge potential for investment and project development in DMCs. ADB is developing a Circular Economy Toolkit to help identify, create, integrate, and deliver investment opportunities. This data room contains the schedule of upcoming webinars, information, and key documents on the Circular Economy, its concepts, and implementation. For periodic updates, sign up here. For more information or specialized advice, please contact James Baker. Program and Learning Materials 20 April 2022 21 April 2022 22 April 2022 23 April 2022 24 April 2022 25 April 2022 26 April 2022 27 April 2022 Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) 25 June 2025 Effectiveness, Efficiency, Equity, and Enforceability – Evaluating Economic Instruments for Thailand's Packaging Waste (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 41) The Circular Economy Webinar Series continues, building on the demand for more knowledge and real-life use cases from the Circular Economy Forum. In… 5 June 2025 Digitizing Waste Management with Women at the Center: Insights from Southeast Asia (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 40) This is the 40th session of the ADB Circular Economy Webinar Series, after nearly three years of promoting circular economy innovations and solutions… 21 May 2025 Unlocking Opportunities in Circular Textiles (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 39) Circularity can be applied across all sectors and industries, including the fashion and textile sectors. Every year, the textile sector contributes 2… 8 May 2025 Collaborative Approaches to Waste Management: Bridging the Informal and Formal Sectors (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 38) Drawing on real-world experiences from India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong, China, this webinar highlighted practical solutions—including… 19 March 2025 Progress on the Global Plastics Treaty: Outcomes and Insights from the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee Process (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 37) With millions of tons of plastic produced annually and plastic waste driving environmental and climate concerns, the Global Plastics Treaty will be… 12 March 2025 Accelerating Circularity and Just Transition through Digital Solutions (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 36) In the journey toward a sustainable, inclusive, and waste-free future, digital transformation plays a pivotal role in reshaping material flows… 26 February 2025 Financing Plastic Circularity: Recommendations to Overcome Market and Policy Challenges (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 35) With the massive scale of the plastic pollution crisis, countries need an estimated $50 billion–$120 billion annually to achieve their waste… 5 February 2025 Circularity In Action: Accelerating a Concrete Solution to Plastic Waste at CRDC Global (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 34) Circular business models struggle to scale when economic actors lack incentives to collaborate. In this webinar, Donald Thomson, CEO of the… 22 January 2025 Opportunities to Strengthen Regional Cooperation for Marine Litter Management in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 33) Marine litter was a major concern for Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Governments in these countries had developed and… 20 November 2024 Circular Economy of Manila Bay’s Plastic Waste (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 32) The Holcim Circular Explorer project in Manila Bay was a groundbreaking initiative that combined technology, sustainability, and community action… 13 November 2024 Biodegradable and Compostable Solutions for Agriculture (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 31) Novamont was an Italian industrial company established in 1990. It was a Benefit Company, B Corp certified and among the leaders in producing… 30 October 2024 An Overview of E-Waste in the Basel Convention (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 30) This webinar covered various aspects of electronic and electrical wastes, or e-wastes, in the context of the Basel Convention on the Control of… 16 October 2024 Scaling Reuse and Refill Solutions in Indonesia and Southeast Asia (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 29) With Southeast Asia urgently needing to tackle plastic waste, Alner’s reuse and refill solutions offered a scalable, sustainable alternative to… 18 September 2024 Accelerating a Circular Economy of EV Batteries in South Korea (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 28) This session discussed South Korea’s Policy Directions for the Circular Economy, with EV batteries as a key priority and focus, establishing a… 11 June 2024 Circular Economy: Integrated Waste Management Approach (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 27) This session covered two broad themes: Abellon’s integrated waste management approach combining material recovery as well as energy recovery; and… 20 March 2024 Circular Economy in the Construction Industry (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 26) In the seminar, the potential of circular economy (CE) in the construction industry, known for its significant environmental footprint, was… 06 March 2024 Opportunities in the Global Plastics Treaty for Asia and the Pacific Addressing Plastic Pollution for Climate Benefits (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 25) During the webinar session, the discussion revolved around the potential impact of a continued business-as-usual scenario, which could have seen… 07 February 2024 The Challenges of Applying Circular Economy Principles to Food Waste and Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment in Hong Kong, China (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 24) The session covered the challenges and opportunities of circular economy in the Asian context and discussed Hong Kong, China’s practical… 24 January 2024 Circular Economy Government and Stakeholder Engagement - Some Practical Wins and Losses (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 23) This session highlighted delving into the crucial element of stakeholder engagement in the successful execution of circular economy projects… 17 January 2024 Bioplastics in Thailand: Perceptions versus Reality and Future Directions for Southeast Asia (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 22) This session walked through the bioplastics value chain using the case study in Thailand based on a cost-benefit analysis research study that ADB… 7 December 2023 Plastic Asset Circularity (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 21) This Circular Economy Webinar Series session spotlighted how Recity is enabling a circular economy of plastics with a combination of physical… 23 November 2023 Quantifying Plastic Pollution to Inform Evidence-based and Effective Interventions (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 20) Plastic pollution is an archetypical global challenge, the complexity of which means that we still do not have a sufficient understanding of… 28 September 2023 Closing the Loop on Food Waste with Insect Bioconversion (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 19) The ADB Circular Economy (CE) Webinar Series session explored how insect bioconversion offers a nature-based solution to the pressing challenges… 14 September 2023 Scaling the Circular Economy with Circular Platforms (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 18) The circular economy offers a framework for reducing waste and increasing sustainability by keeping materials in use through repair, reuse, and… 24 August 2023 Low Temperature Gasification of Waste: Ultimate Solution for Energy/Waste/Climate (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 17) This session discussed about an innovation for Waste to Energy: How Waste can be turned into an Energy Resource without air pollution and… 22 June 2023 Smart Cities and Circular Economy: How Citizens Recycle and Reuse to Save the Planet (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 16) The amount of plastic waste in South Korea has been increasing rapidly during the coronavirus pandemic, and the problem is becoming serious. To… 11 May 2023 The Power of Partnerships in Fostering a Circular Economy (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 15) ADDENDUM: Please note that the numbers or figures shown in the presentation delivered in this webinar may no longer be updated. These… 20 April 2023 Circular Solutions to Address Plastic Pollution in the Maritime Industry (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 14) In the Philippines, at least 2.5 million metric tons of plastic were being consumed pre-pandemic, out of which only 9% was being recycled and 35%… 30 March 2023 Research Assessment on the Attitudes and Motivations of Women in Waste: A Gender-responsive Approach on Addressing Plastic Pollution (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 13) The ADB CEWG recognizes the need to highlight the human side of our commitment to a circular economy. In partnership with World Wildlife Fund … 16 March 2023 NUTEC Plastic - NUclear TEchnology for Controlling Plastic Pollution (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 12) There are about 12 million tons of plastic that enter the oceans every year. The oceans are expected to contain one ton of plastic for every… 2 February 2023 ECOBRICKS: A Circular Economy Solution to Transform Plastic Waste into Sustainable Concrete (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 11) The built environment and the construction industry are major contributors to the planet's greatest environmental challenges - plastic waste and… 8 December 2022 Mil Mill Paper Cycle – a Circular Business Model for Low Value Waste Mixed Papers (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 10) The session is about Mill, Hong Kong, China’s first beverage carton recycling pulp mill and education center. The center can process up to about… 24 November 2022 Koinpack’s Reuse Revolution to Radically Prevent Plastic Pollution in Indonesia (ADB Circular Economy Webinar Series, Session 09) Launched in 2020, Koinpack built a deposit-based reuse system for plastic packaging, allowing consumers to purchase their favorite brands in… 17 November 2022 Omni Processor Project: Revolutionizing Municipal Solid Waste and Liquid Sludge Management in Bangladesh (ADB Circular Economy Webinar Series, Session 08) Session Synopsis: In observance of World Toilet Day and the call for urgent action to make sanitation a global development priority, the… 10 November 2022 ADB’s Roadmap for Circular Economy Zero Waste Cities in the People’s Republic of China (Circular Economy Webinar Series Session 07) In 2009, the Circular Economy Promotion Law came into effect in the People's Republic of China (PRC), and circular economy is now included as an… 20 October 2022 Measuring and Mitigating Methane Emissions from Agriculture, Municipal Solid Waste, and Wastewater (ADB CE Webinar Series, Session 06) Nick Elger with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provided an overview of tools and resources offered by the EPA to support methane… 22 September 2022 Eliminating the Idea of Waste with the TerraCycle Global Foundation (ADB CE Webinar Series, Session 05) Thousands of tons of plastic waste are polluting Thailand’s canals, rivers, and seas every year. The TerraCycle Global Foundation collects and… 25 August 2022 A pre-launch for the Circular Plastics Economy eLearning Course (ADB CE Webinar Series, Session 04) How can policymakers and corporate strategists design and implement effective policies to reduce and eventually eliminate plastic pollution? … 11 August 2022 THE GREEN ROAD: Integrated Waste Management and Circular Economy in Bhutan (ADB CE Webinar Series, Session 03) While Bhutan is developing its network of roadways, its climate, and mountainous terrain contribute to road degradation, making it difficult for… 26 July 2022 Case Studies on Circular Economy Biz Model: Mechanisms, Opportunities and Challenges (ADB CE Webinar Series, Session 02) Despite the current circular economy global movement, the amount of waste generated globally is still on the rise, especially during the COVID-19… 7 June 2022 Biochar as a Circular Solution for Sustainable Agriculture and Poverty Reduction (ADB CE Webinar Series, Session 01) Asia is home to an estimated 350 million smallholder farmers, who produce around 80% of the food consumed in the region. The impacts of climate… 15 February 2022 Online Presentation and Discussion on Orange Clockwork Waste The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), a leader in the circular economy presented and discussed the “Orange Clockwork” showcasing businesses from… 28 January 2022 Plastic-free Oceans by Ministry of Environment, Government of Japan Session Synopsis: The global community now faces three global crises: climate change, nature loss, and environmental pollution. In order to address… Robin Takashi Lewis, Shuji Sonoda, Yasuhiko Hotta 28 January 2022 Circular Economy Plastics Clinic: A Project Playshop Jenna Jambeck, Lerwen Liu, Dave Albao, Anna Oposa 27 January 2022 Deep Dive 1.4 (Plastic-free Oceans Track) - Advancing Circularity: Supporting Investible Startups with a Connected Network Matteo Chiampo, Sandhya Dovedy, Sarahvan van Boekhout, Laura Benns 27 January 2022 Deep Dive 1.5. Better Together: Innovating Socially Inclusive Waste Management Systems James Baker, Siddharth Hande, Barak Ekshtein, Bharati Chaturvedi, Luca Di Mario 26 January 2022 Scene Setter for Plastic-free Oceans Plastic waste and pollution are urgent issues for Asia and the Pacific and the health of its ecosystems and communities. Over 80% of all marine… Jenna Jambeck 26 January 2022 Deep Dive 1.1 (Plastic-free Oceans Track) - Circling Back: A Back-to-Basics Course on Circular Plastics Economy Anna Oposa, Dave Albao, Lerwen Liu 26 January 2022 Deep Dive 1.2 (Plastic-free Oceans Track) - From Source to Sea: Promoting Circular Economy Solutions to Reduce Marine Plastic Pollution Bintang Ekananda, Pratibha Priya, Nieva Natural, Shuji Hashizume, Mahesh Pradhan 26 January 2022 Deep Dive 1.3 (Plastic-free Oceans Track) - Message in a Bottle-to Bottle: Scaling Up Investments in High-Quality Recycling Mani Kishore Vajipeyajula, Kanchana Wanichkorn, Ingo Walterscheid, Keli Yu, Sanjib Bezbaroa, Martyn Tickner, Jonas Byström Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Articles Designing an Effective Data Governance Framework for Plastic Waste Management Articles Stopping Plastic Waste Leakage into Oceans Articles A circular economy for a sustainable plastic future Articles The Role of Ocean Finance in Transitioning to a Blue Economy in Asia and the Pacific Articles Reviving Ocean Health through Regional Cooperation Articles Using Metrics to Support Co-Investment in Ocean Plastics and Climate Change Mitigation Articles A Systems Approach for Transitioning Southeast Asia to a Circular Economy Articles How Innovative Technologies and Business Models Enable a Circular Plastics Economy Articles Unlocking the Value of Agrifood Waste Streams Articles Climate Mitigation Opportunities in the Planned Global Plastics Treaty Articles Unlocking the Benefits of Biogas in a Circular Agri-food Economy Articles Opportunities in Applying Digital Solutions to Plastic Waste Management in Viet Nam Articles A Circular Economy Solution to Transform Plastic Waste into Sustainable Concrete Articles Addressing the Challenges of Southeast Asia’s Growing Biomaterial Industry Articles Harmonizing Marine Plastic Pollution Data in the East Asian Seas Articles Reducing Viet Nam’s Plastic Pollution through Digital Data Articles Optimizing Municipal Waste Collection in the Philippines through a Smart App Articles Understanding the Potential of Informal Waste Recycling in Chennai Articles Reducing Indonesia’s Plastic Consumption through a Reuse Packaging Alternative Articles Scaling Up Support to Reduce Plastic Pollution and Mitigate Climate Change Articles Taking Digital Actions Against Plastic for Ecosystem Health Blogs Repurposing Food Waste: A Circular Economy Approach for the Food System Blogs Plastic Waste and The Circular Economy Photo Essay Back to Nature Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Briefs Options for Urban Mining and Integration with a Potential Green Circular Economy in the People’s Republic of China Briefs Managing Infectious Medical Waste during the COVID-19 Pandemic Briefs Is There a Case for Bioplastics? Experience from Thailand Briefs Addressing Plastic Pollution for Climate Benefits: Opportunities in the Global Plastics Treaty for Asia and the Pacific Briefs Financing Plastic Circularity in Asia: How to Overcome Market and Policy Challenges and Create Impact Briefs Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Marine Litter Management in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam: Policy Analysis And Opportunities Briefs How Thailand Can Apply Economic Instruments to Accelerate Plastic Packaging Circularity Briefs Can Digital Technology Strengthen Inclusivity in Plastic Waste Management? Evidence from Indonesia and Viet Nam Brochures Advancing the Circular Economy: Creating a Sustainable Future in Asia and the Pacific Brochures Innovative Finance Mechanisms: Coral Reef Insurance, Blue Bonds, Sustainability-Linked Loans, and Blue Carbon Reports Waste to Energy in the Age of the Circular Economy: Best Practice Handbook Reports Addressing Marine Litter Through Sustainable Tourism: The Case of the Siargao Islands Reports Prospects for Transitioning from a Linear to Circular Economy in Developing Asia Reports Metals and Plastic Recycling in Maldives Working Paper Recycled Plastic Waste in Papua New Guinea’s Road Infrastructure Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Organized by the TA ADB Circular Economy Sprint Series - Closing the Circle: Reducing Plastic Pollution and Promoting Green Businesses Organized by the TA Bangkok Plastics Week Organized by the TA ADB Circular Economy Training Series: Accelerating the Circular Economy Organized by the TA Accelerating Investments for Plastic Circularity Organized by the TA Circular Economy Forum 2025 Co/Organized by ADB Blue Finance Training: Designing and Financing Bankable Projects in Transitioning to a Blue Economy Co/Organized by ADB Banking on Waste: Unlocking Finance to Address Plastic Pollution Co/Organized by ADB The Global Plastics Treaty and Implications for Southeast Asia Co/Organized by ADB Launch of the Manila City Action Plan for Plastic Circularity Organized by Partners and Other Organizations ADB Participation at the fifth Global Plastics Treaty (GPT) Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee Session (INC-5) Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Project Documents Regional: Promoting Action on Plastic Pollution from Source to Sea in Asia and the Pacific Plans Environment Action Plan 2024–2030: Toward a Nature-Positive Asia and the Pacific Plans Healthy Oceans Implementation Plan 2022-2024 Frameworks o Bank Ocean Finance Framework Frameworks ADB Blue Bonds Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) 18 November 2020 The Business Times Singapore Op-ed: Catching the wave of blue finance 13 January 2021 The Business Times Singapore Op-ed: Race to Restore Asia-Pacific’s Ocean Economy Ingrid van Wees and John Tanzer 6 April 2021 The Business Times Singapore Op-ed: Navigating a rising tide of blue ocean business Ingrid Van Wees and Melissa Walsh 21 June 2021 The Business Times Singapore Op-ed: Taking the Risk Out of Blue Investments Ingrid van Wees 28 September 2021 The Business Times Singapore Op-ed: Putting (monetary) values on beaches and coral reefs Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) 24 February 2022 Prospects for Transitioning from a Linear to Circular Economy in Developing Asia 19 May 2022 Circular Economy: Increasing Resource Efficiency and Designing Out Waste 25 July 2022 Embracing Environmental Sustainability and the Circular Economy 31 January 2023 Circular Economy Policy Maker E-Training 5 June 2023 World Environment Day: Beat Plastic Pollution 21 November 2023 Stopping Plastic Waste Leakage into Oceans 19 July 2024 How much plastic do you use in everyday life? 27 December 2024 Turning the Tide: ADB Boosts Plastic Recycling in Indonesia 7 January 2025 No Time to Waste 18 June 2025 Unlocking Private Capital to Power the Circular Economy Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) May 2022 Circular Economy: Increasing Resource Efficiency and Designing Out Waste May 2022 Circular Economy Policy Maker E-Training Disclaimer The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Event Coordinator/s James Baker Maria Pia Ancora Sing (Terry) Cho ADB Organizer/s Climate Change, Resilience, and Environment Cluster Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office Water and Urban Development Sector Office Read Also Regional Technical Assistance: Promoting Action on Plastic Pollution from Source to Sea in Asia and the Pacific Circular Economy Forum Advancing the Circular Economy: Creating a Sustainable Future in Asia and the Pacific Topics Climate Change Economics Energy Environment Knowledge Management