Bangkok, October 2026

2026 ASEAN Circular Economy Forum

Closing the Loop, Opening the Future: Thriving in a Resource-Challenged World

Main Dates 6 - 7 October 2026
Venue SO Bangkok, Thailand
Side Events 8 October 2026
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Concept Note & Rationale

Understanding the background and layers of circular economic transition in the ASEAN region.

ASEAN's economic growth has contributed significantly to poverty reduction, industrial development, and regional integration. However, this growth continues to depend heavily on a linear economic model of resource extraction, production, consumption, and disposal. Rising resource demand, increasing waste generation, climate-related disruptions, and growing competition for critical materials are exposing ASEAN Member States (AMS) to new economic vulnerabilities. Supply chain resilience and access to strategic raw materials are determinants of long-term sustainable development.

Under the theme "Closing the Loop, Opening the Future: Thriving in a Resource-Challenged World", ACEF 2026 will explore circular economy as a strategy for resource security, economic resilience, and long-term competitiveness. The Forum shifts attention towards a strategic question: how can ASEAN thrive in a resource-constrained world while maintaining economic growth, competitiveness, and social well-being?

Coordinated with the ASEAN Secretariat and relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies, the forum brings together policymakers, businesses, MSMEs, academia, civil society organisations, development partners, and international experts to advance dialogue on circular economy policies, investments, innovation, and implementation across the region.

Circular Economy Flow Illustration

6 Layers of Circular Transition

01
Policy Architecture
Regional frameworks and ASEAN policy alignments.
02
Industrial & Enablers
Standards, fiscal tools, and green industry taxonomies.
03
Market Systems
Developing robust secondary materials markets.
04
MSMEs & Communities
Empowering local enterprise and inclusive growth.
05
Capacity & Scaling
Incubators, green skills, and commercial funding.
06
Behaviour & Lifestyles
Consumer education, awareness, and sustainable choices.

Forum Objectives

01 Examine how ASEAN and national policy frameworks, including trade agreements, industrial strategies, SCP priorities, and EPR systems, can accelerate circular economy implementation.
02 Promote policy harmonisation and regional cooperation on circular economy governance, standards, taxonomies, and regulatory instruments to support ASEAN integration.
03 Showcase practical approaches for developing secondary materials markets, resource recovery systems, circular value chains, and data-driven market intelligence.
04 Strengthen the role of MSMEs, community enterprises, civil society organisations, and local innovators in delivering an inclusive and socially responsive circular transition.
05 Identify financing, incubation, capacity-building, and trade promotion mechanisms that enable circular businesses and startups to scale.
06 Advance green skills, environmental education, consumer awareness, and sustainable lifestyle initiatives that support long-term behavioural change.
07 Generate actionable recommendations and strategic inputs to support implementation of the ASEAN Circular Economy Framework.

Expected Outcomes

✓ ACEF 2026 Policy and Market Action Agenda outlining priority actions for advancing circular economy implementation across ASEAN.
✓ ASEAN Policy Dialogue Recommendations on EPR, Circular Trade and Industrial Transition for consideration by relevant bodies.
✓ Regional Brief on Secondary Materials Markets, Resource Circulation and Resource Security, recommending trade facilitation pathways.
✓ ASEAN Circular Enterprise Scaling Framework, highlighting incubation models and capacity-building mechanisms for MSMEs.
✓ Recommendations on Green Skills, Environmental Education and Sustainable Consumption, supporting collaboration with AWGEE.
✓ Strengthened Partnerships and collaborative initiatives among ASEAN Member States, private sector, development partners, and NGOs.
✓ Formal Inputs communicated to the ASEAN Focal Group on Circular Economy, ASOEN, ACCMSME, and AWGEE.
✓ Implementation Response to the ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Circular Economy (RDCE) Chair's Summary under the Philippine Chairship.
✓ Consolidated ASEAN Circular Economy Action Agenda 2026, integrating recommendations from both RDCE and ACEF discussions.
Conference Schedule Illustration

Programme Agenda

Browse sessions across the 2-day main forum and partner side events. The program structure targets transitioning frameworks into commercial scale and human capital development. Click on any session card for detailed core content and key objectives.

09:00 - 09:30
Session 0 Opening Plenary

Opening Ceremony

High-level opening ceremony featuring distinguished keynote speakers from the ASEAN Secretariat, the European Union, and ACSDSD organizers.

Organised by ACSDSD / ASEC
Details →
09:30 - 11:00
Session 1 Policy Roundtable

Regional Policy Architecture: Aligning ASEAN Frameworks

Focusing on the ASEAN Circular Economy Framework, SCP implementation priorities, and the role of ATIGA in shaping regional trade, standards, and competitiveness.

Led by ACSDSD, ASEC, UN Trade Bodies
Details →
11:15 - 12:45
Session 2 Policy Roundtable

National Roadmaps, EPR and Regulatory Tools for Circular Transition

Discussing national roadmaps across AMS, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) governance, compliance mechanisms, and trade-related regulatory instruments.

Led by ACSDSD, National Governments, SEI, GGGI
Details →
14:00 - 15:30
Session 3 Panel & Showcase

Industrial Transformation, Circular Enablers and Taxonomies

Manufacturing, industrial, and trade policies that enable circular production, sector-specific industrial dynamics, circular taxonomies, and fiscal incentives.

Led by SEI, ACSDSD, ASEC
Details →
15:45 - 17:15
Session 4 Expert Dialogue

Resource Circulation, Secondary Materials Markets & Priority Sectors

Data-driven recovery systems, standards for secondary materials, UNEP International Resource Panel (IRP) updates, and resource security in strategic sectors.

Led by GGGI, ACSDSD, ASEC
Details →
18:00 - 20:30
Evening Network Networking Mixer

Circular Matchmaking and Networking Session

Structured networking among policymakers, businesses, investors, MSMEs, development partners, and academia to facilitate project matchmaking and collaborations.

Led by All Partners
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09:00 - 11:00
Session 1 Moderated Presentations

MSMEs, Community Innovation and Inclusive Circular Economy

Showcasing circular MSME cases, integrating informal waste workers into value chains, and using tools like the ASEAN Circular Product & Service Database.

Led by ACCMSME, ITC, ASEAN SCOPE Trade & Partners
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11:15 - 13:00
Session 2 Presentations & Case Studies

Scaling Success: Business, Trade and Investment for Circular Growth

Moving circular businesses from pilot projects to commercial scale, startup acceleration, corporate supply chains, and blended financing structures.

Led by Organising Partners, Private Sector, FIs
Details →
14:00 - 16:00
Session 3 Interactive Dialogue

Consumer Behaviour, Sustainable Lifestyles and Human Capital

The role of educational systems, green skills development, activating AWGEE, and showcasing sustainable cities as living labs for circular innovation.

Led by ASCC Sectoral Bodies, AWGEE, Educational Inst.
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16:15 - 17:30
Session 4 Plenary Synthesis

Synthesis and ASEAN Circular Economy Action Agenda Tracking

Consolidating key recommendations, reviewing progress on ASEAN commitments, and presenting the ACEF 2026 Chair's Summary and Action Agenda.

Led by ACSDSD, ASEC, Organising Partners
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09:00 - 13:00
Side Event A Co-hosted Workshop

ASEAN SCOPE Trade Side Event (ITC)

Focused workshop co-hosted by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and ACCMSME, focusing on MSME trade readiness, regional standards, and export potential for circular products.

Led by ITC & ACCMSME
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14:00 - 18:00
Side Event B Policy & Business Seminar

Team Finland Circular Business Models Seminar

Joint event by SITRA, Business Finland, and the Finnish Embassy. Presenting Nordic circular policies, green industrial transformations, and market solutions for ASEAN industries.

Led by Team Finland & SITRA
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Forum Registration

Interested in attending the 2026 ASEAN Circular Economy Forum in Bangkok?

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Online registration for the 2026 ASEAN Circular Economy Forum in Bangkok is currently unavailable. The organizing committee is actively preparing the registration platform.

We look forward to welcoming you to Bangkok in October 2026. Please check back soon for official registration details and participation announcements.