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Home > News > Regional News

K Report on plastics circularity (II): Asia between advances and structural deficits

Source：Adsale Plastics Network Date ：2025-07-09 Editor ：VC
Copyright： This article was originally written/edited by Adsale Plastics Network (AdsaleCPRJ.com), republishing and excerpting are not allowed without permission. For any copyright infringement, we will pursue legal liability in accordance with the law.

Accounting for 53% of global plastics production Asia is the main player – and the main source of plastic waste. While some countries pursue ambitious recycling strategies, others lack the basic infrastructure.


Read more: K Report on plastics circularity (I): Outlook in Europe, North America, and South America

 

China: Implementing consistently


For a long time, China was the biggest importer of plastic waste, now the country is recharting its course. By adopting its “National Sword Policy” the country has stopped the imports of unsorted plastic waste and is now driving the expansion of own recycling structures. The 14th 5-year plan focuses on modern collection and sorting systems and promotes both mechanical and chemical recycling. 


By 2035 the industry aims to be largely decarbonised and have transited to closed material cycles. This strategy is accompanied by the “Circular Economy Promotion Law”, which obliges companies to take back and safely dispose of specific products, and the establishment of the state-owned “China Resources Recycling Group” with the aim of centrally controlling the transformation.

 

Japan and South Korea: Driving technology systematically


Japan and South Korea are among the pioneers in circular economy – not least due to clear political objectives and early-adopted legislation. In Japan the “Container and Packaging Recycling Act” has already obliged companies since the 1990s to participate in return and recycling systems. This is supported by the “Plastic Resource Circulation Act” adopted in 2022, which promotes recyclate use and prescribes detailed recycling plans for plastic products.

 

South Korea pursues a systemic, technology-driven approach via its new “Act for Promotion of Transition to a Circular Economy Society” (APTCES): binding recycling rates, clear requirements for sustainable product design as well as targeted regulation for hard-to-recycle products. In addition, companies wanting to place new recycling technologies on the market, are temporarily exempted from restrictions. 

 

Unlike Europe, these two countries are banking on clear responsibilities, hands-on implementation and targeted innovation funding rather than detailed regulation. This approach is supported by high social acceptance and responsibility assumed across the board.

 

From India to Indonesia: Faltering circular economy


In India the “Plastic Waste Management Rules” (PWMR) oblige companies to take back plastic waste. Despite this important step insufficient infrastructure and the varying regional applications of the rules remain a major challenge for a nation-wide implementation.

 

Similar problems exist in Vietnam, where an EPR law was introduced in 2022. It holds manufacturers and importers accountable for seeing to the recyclability of their products.

 

In Thailand the “Plastic Waste Management Roadmap 2030” pursues the aim of recycling or energetically using 100% of plastic waste by 2027. There are local initiatives in Indonesia but there is no comprehensive national strategy. One objective is to drastically reduce the plastic waste that ends up in the sea by 2040.

 

Despite the progress made in these countries the regional fragmentation of waste management and the lack of infrastructure continue to pose a major challenge. Raising people’s awareness and stronger industry involvement will make or break the success of these measures. 


Summary & Outlook

 

The circular economy is both an obligation and opportunity alike for the plastics industry. Europe pursues a strictly regulatory approach, Asia combines state regulations with technology offensives while in the Americas the spectrum ranges from ambitious requirements to a patchwork of isolated measures or confidence in the invisible hand of the market.

 

But every circular economy model has its pitfalls: regulation creates clear rules but can lead to excessive bureaucracy and lack of investment – a risk that becomes increasingly perceivable in Europe.

 

Market-based approaches promote innovations but do not guarantee nation-wide implementation. Centrally controlled strategies produce fast progress but run the risk of becoming inefficient.

 

One thing is clear: without higher recycling rates and more recyclates the circular economy remains a patchwork. Those learning from each other can combine strengths and compensate for weaknesses.


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Source：Adsale Plastics Network Date ：2025-07-09 Editor ：VC
Copyright： This article was originally written/edited by Adsale Plastics Network (AdsaleCPRJ.com), republishing and excerpting are not allowed without permission. For any copyright infringement, we will pursue legal liability in accordance with the law.

Accounting for 53% of global plastics production Asia is the main player – and the main source of plastic waste. While some countries pursue ambitious recycling strategies, others lack the basic infrastructure.


Read more: K Report on plastics circularity (I): Outlook in Europe, North America, and South America

 

China: Implementing consistently


For a long time, China was the biggest importer of plastic waste, now the country is recharting its course. By adopting its “National Sword Policy” the country has stopped the imports of unsorted plastic waste and is now driving the expansion of own recycling structures. The 14th 5-year plan focuses on modern collection and sorting systems and promotes both mechanical and chemical recycling. 


By 2035 the industry aims to be largely decarbonised and have transited to closed material cycles. This strategy is accompanied by the “Circular Economy Promotion Law”, which obliges companies to take back and safely dispose of specific products, and the establishment of the state-owned “China Resources Recycling Group” with the aim of centrally controlling the transformation.

 

Japan and South Korea: Driving technology systematically


Japan and South Korea are among the pioneers in circular economy – not least due to clear political objectives and early-adopted legislation. In Japan the “Container and Packaging Recycling Act” has already obliged companies since the 1990s to participate in return and recycling systems. This is supported by the “Plastic Resource Circulation Act” adopted in 2022, which promotes recyclate use and prescribes detailed recycling plans for plastic products.

 

South Korea pursues a systemic, technology-driven approach via its new “Act for Promotion of Transition to a Circular Economy Society” (APTCES): binding recycling rates, clear requirements for sustainable product design as well as targeted regulation for hard-to-recycle products. In addition, companies wanting to place new recycling technologies on the market, are temporarily exempted from restrictions. 

 

Unlike Europe, these two countries are banking on clear responsibilities, hands-on implementation and targeted innovation funding rather than detailed regulation. This approach is supported by high social acceptance and responsibility assumed across the board.

 

From India to Indonesia: Faltering circular economy


In India the “Plastic Waste Management Rules” (PWMR) oblige companies to take back plastic waste. Despite this important step insufficient infrastructure and the varying regional applications of the rules remain a major challenge for a nation-wide implementation.

 

Similar problems exist in Vietnam, where an EPR law was introduced in 2022. It holds manufacturers and importers accountable for seeing to the recyclability of their products.

 

In Thailand the “Plastic Waste Management Roadmap 2030” pursues the aim of recycling or energetically using 100% of plastic waste by 2027. There are local initiatives in Indonesia but there is no comprehensive national strategy. One objective is to drastically reduce the plastic waste that ends up in the sea by 2040.

 

Despite the progress made in these countries the regional fragmentation of waste management and the lack of infrastructure continue to pose a major challenge. Raising people’s awareness and stronger industry involvement will make or break the success of these measures. 


Summary & Outlook

 

The circular economy is both an obligation and opportunity alike for the plastics industry. Europe pursues a strictly regulatory approach, Asia combines state regulations with technology offensives while in the Americas the spectrum ranges from ambitious requirements to a patchwork of isolated measures or confidence in the invisible hand of the market.

 

But every circular economy model has its pitfalls: regulation creates clear rules but can lead to excessive bureaucracy and lack of investment – a risk that becomes increasingly perceivable in Europe.

 

Market-based approaches promote innovations but do not guarantee nation-wide implementation. Centrally controlled strategies produce fast progress but run the risk of becoming inefficient.

 

One thing is clear: without higher recycling rates and more recyclates the circular economy remains a patchwork. Those learning from each other can combine strengths and compensate for weaknesses.


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K Report on plastics circularity (II): Asia between advances and structural deficits

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