Manila, 24 September 2026: ERIA and the Government of the Philippines co-hosted the ASEAN Conference on Combatting Plastic Pollution (ACCPP) 2026 at the New World Makati Hotel, bringing together policymakers, businesses, researchers, and development partners to advance practical solutions for plastic circularity.

Under the theme ‘One Region, One Vision: Advancing Knowledge and Building Regional Capacity to End Plastic Pollution’, the conference welcomed representatives from seven ASEAN Member States, alongside civil society organisations and online participants.

In his opening remarks, ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe emphasised that tackling plastic pollution requires action across the entire plastics lifecycle, from product design and consumption to waste collection and recovery. He highlighted the importance of reducing dependence on virgin plastics and accelerating reuse and recycling as part of the transition towards a circular economy.

The 2-day programme featured eight sessions examining how to prevent waste through better design, strengthen governance and producer responsibility, and improve recovery and recycling. Discussions also addressed the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises, behavioural change, and decentralised waste management, recognising the different capacities and circumstances of ASEAN Member States.

President Watanabe noted that ACCPP has supported regional knowledge exchange since its launch in 2023. Previous conferences contributed to policy recommendations and helped advance work towards the ASEAN Declaration on Plastic Circularity.

This year’s edition built on ERIA’s partnership with the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with financial and technical support from the French Development Agency (AFD), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership, and the United Nations Environment Programme.

President Watanabe reaffirmed ERIA’s commitment to connecting research with policy and implementation. Through collaboration with governments, businesses, researchers, and communities, ERIA aims to help translate ASEAN’s plastic circularity commitments into practical action.