Speaking at the Sustainability Expo 2026 (SX2026) in Bangkok, Dr. Anthony M. Watanabe, Chief Sustainability Officer of Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited (SET: IVL), outlined a strategic roadmap for Thailand’s transition toward a circular economy.
Drawing from Indorama Ventures’ global operations as the world’s largest recycler of PET beverage bottles—which recycle over 766 PET bottles every second—Dr. Watanabe stressed that Thailand stands at a crucial juncture as it drafts its Sustainable Packaging Management Act. He urged government leaders and industry stakeholders to design enforceable policies that fit Thailand’s local context.
Learning from Global Pioneers
Dr. Watanabe urged Thai policymakers to take key lessons from international policy frameworks, warning specifically against the mistakes made in Brazil and Vietnam. In Brazil, recycled content mandates were introduced without enforcement, prompting global corporations to lower their targets while local firms ignored the rules entirely. Similarly, Vietnam enacted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations three years ago, but poor structural design forced authorities to scrap the framework and start over.
Dr. Watanabe emphasized that policy implemented without enforcement is a dangerous mistake. To prevent similar setbacks in Thailand, he suggested clear government signals, phased-in targets, and practical mechanisms like Extended Producer Responsibility and design-for-recycling standards.
Safeguarding Thailand’s Informal Economy
A central theme of Dr. Watanabe’s address was protecting Thailand’s informal waste sector during the transition to formal packaging regulations. Citing statistics from the government body, Dr. Watanabe noted that 12 million people work in the informal economy, representing a vital backbone of local collection networks.
To ensure a “just transition,” new policies must remain accessible to smaller operators through shared compliance agreements, clear guidelines, and simple online reporting tools. Indorama Ventures supports this inclusive approach by offering personal protective equipment and safety training to bottle bale suppliers, alongside extensive public recycling education.
Driving Industry Innovation and Regional Leadership
Highlighting progress in Thailand, Dr. Watanabe pointed to the Thai FDA’s decision four years ago to approve food-grade recycled PET (rPET), which opened domestic markets for high-quality bottle-to-bottle recycling. Beyond rigid packaging, Indorama Ventures is expanding into polyester textile recycling through a joint venture with GRN in Asia, tackling complex multi-material fast fashion waste.
On the international stage, Dr. Watanabe chairs the UN Circular Economy Task Force for Asia-Pacific under ESCAP and launched the “APAC Drive to 25” campaign. The initiative highlights circular economy solutions as a core climate driver capable of generating 25% of the region’s required carbon emissions reductions.
Government and Corporate Responsibility
Addressing the financial realities of circular economy investments, Dr. Watanabe acknowledged that recycling remains a tough business with long return-on-investment timelines. Guided by the multi-generational vision of founder Mr. Aloke Lohia, Indorama Ventures views sustainability as non-negotiable stewardship. He asserted that governments and businesses—not individual consumers—hold the primary levers to scale circularity through regulation, infrastructure, and innovation. By adopting a comprehensive, enforceable EPR framework, Dr. Watanabe concluded that Thailand can boost tourism and economic growth, attract green investment, and reinforce its global reputation as a regional sustainability leader in ASEAN, especially after a remarkable success in hosting the World Bank and IMF meeting in October.
