Group photo of the PRO workshop participants

26 August 2025, Nikko Hotel Bangkok – The Marine Litter Prevention through Reduction, Sustainable Design, and Recycling of Plastic Packaging (MA-RE-DESIGN) project, implemented by GIZ Thailand, advanced plans for driving Thailand’s packaging waste management systems as government officials, industry leaders and circular economy experts gathered in a workshop to refine the blueprint for the country’s Packaging Responsibility Organisation (PRO).

Taweechai Jiaranaikhajorn, Director of the Waste Minimisation Subdivision, Pollution Control Department spoke about the status of the Draft Sustainable Packaging Management Act and the Establishment of the National PRO

As Thailand is in the process of drafting the Sustainable Packaging Management Act, the law will shift the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) from a voluntary basis to a mandatory one. This means that producers will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of their packaging. To ensure that relevant stakeholders comply properly with the EPR principle, a Packaging Responsibility Organization (PRO) must be established. For this reason, the MA-RE-DESIGN project organized a meeting to discuss the concept of setting up such a PRO.

Dr Watit Kaewwaenoi, Director of the Packaging and Recycling Management Institute for Sustainable Environment, Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), gave a presentation: ‘Status of Private Sector Initiatives in Developing the Voluntary PRO’

Dr Panate Manomaivibool, Project Consultant, shared input relevant to the development of the EPR fee guidelines

PRO recommendation: Blueprint for Thailand’s environmental future
Key elements of the PRO proposal include: registering obliged producers and establishing measures to prevent free-riders; developing the Packaging Management Responsibility Plan; operationalising collection and processing systems for packaging waste; establishing monitoring and reporting mechanisms; financing the PRO and setting out a clear timeline.

Dr Stephan Löhle and Jana Brinkmann, PRO experts from Cyclos, presented a proposal on the structure and establishment of a PRO in Thailand

Flowchart structure: Sustainable Packaging Management Act (PCD, 2024)

To effectively develop a plan by all stakeholders, the workshop was divided into breakout sessions. Participants discussed practical questions: How can municipalities coordinate the collection and treatment of packaging waste with a National PRO? What safeguards ensure accountability? The international perspective proved invaluable through the insights shared by German and Dutch experts from their own EPR implementation journey.

The workshop outcome will directly contribute to Thailand’s draft Sustainable Packaging Management Act development, transiting to the right balance between environmental protection and economic reality. Although the private sector is presented with challenges, the law offers an opportunity – with industry representatives sharing progress on voluntary PRO development while acknowledging the need for stronger regulatory frameworks.

As Thailand’s environment faces mounting pressure, the PRO development represents a fundamental shift towards circular economy thinking. The workshop’s outcomes will guide not only national legislation but also regional cooperation across relevant organisations.