Key insights and highlights from our online strategic dialogue and workshop on Reuse in South and Southeast Asia.
A few weeks ago, SecondMuse and InOff Plastic collaborated with our esteemed partner, The Reuse Portal (an initiative led by World Economic Forum, the UN Environment Programme and the World Wildlife Fund), to host a strategic dialogue and workshop focused on advancing reuse solutions in South and Southeast Asia. This online event brought together participants from diverse sectors, including corporations, governments, and non-profit organizations.
SecondMuse’s Senior Vice President for Asia Pacific, Simon Baldwin, moderated the panel session, which featured insights from Eline Leising of Enviu, Dr. Nguyen Trung Thang from the Government of Vietnam, and Maya Tamimi from the Unilever Indonesia Foundation. The discussion drew on the diverse expertise of the panelists to unpack common challenges of implementing upstream initiatives, particularly reuse and refill solutions, to reduce single-use plastic packaging in the region. A subsequent workshop provided a collaborative space for participants to exchange ideas and experiences. Below, we’ve summarized the key takeaways from these discussions.
Regulatory and Policy Barriers
The adoption of upstream solutions, especially reuse and refill, faces significant hurdles in the region due to insufficient regulations and a lack of standardized guidelines. This issue is further complicated when we consider that different sectors, such as FMCG and pharmaceuticals, often have varying standards. Innovators and startups struggle to develop consistent reuse models that align with each sector’s regulations. Eline emphasized the need for policy incentives to encourage most, if not all actors and industry players to fully embrace reuse solutions.
Even in countries with existing policies, challenges remain. Maya explained that FMCG brands like Unilever face dilemmas when adopting upstream reuse solutions in Indonesia due to the country’s strict policies. Brands would need to decide whether to introduce new products specifically designed for reuse models, or to modify existing ones. The difficulty lies in how reuse models often don’t align perfectly with the products, and altering them can be challenging while still complying to local regulations and standards.
The Global Plastic Treaty offers hope in addressing these regulatory and policy issues. It will encompass various plastic issues, including the production of virgin plastics and usage of single-use plastic packaging, presenting a significant opportunity to encourage countries within the region to develop their own regulations suited to support upstream solutions. This, in turn, could help unlock the region’s potential for creativity, innovation, and transformative business models.
Lack of Consumer Awareness and Market Demand
Engaging a broader audience remains a key challenge in expanding the market for reuse and refill solutions. While environmentally conscious consumers are naturally drawn to these options, many others remain hesitant or uninterested. To tap into a larger market, it is essential to raise consumer awareness and generate demand for these sustainable solutions.
During the workshop, participants shared their experiences in addressing the lack of awareness. By piloting reuse models in closed, controlled environments, rather than alongside single-use options, our workshop participants found that their reuse adoption rates have significantly increased. For instance, offering reusable cups in office settings or at large corporate events can encourage employees to participate in sustainable practices. Additionally, introducing a cashback system for returned packaging can provide extra incentives, further driving adoption of reuse solutions.
From our experience in working closely with innovators on various plastics circularity programs in Thailand, the importance of stakeholder engagement is clear. Platforms that foster open dialogue, discourse, and networking help cross-share valuable insights and establish strategic partnerships. These are essential for running a holistic communication strategy aimed at fostering behavioral change on a national level to reduce single-use plastic consumption, waste generation and harmful disposal habits.
Funding and Financial Challenges
High initial costs and a lack of financial incentives for reuse solutions pose major obstacles. Securing grant funding, addressing the financial competitiveness of single-use products and developing financial mechanisms are crucial in enabling businesses to build the necessary infrastructure and achieve financial viability. Beyond funding and access to finance, reuse solution innovators also face challenges in obtaining technical assistance to secure pilot partners. Running pilots (over a three to six month period) with local businesses is important for scaling their solutions, as these pilots provide them the data and case studies needed to attract potential investors and secure funding.
SecondMuse has been addressing this gap by providing innovators and startups platforms to connect with small establishments like hotels and cafes for B2B collaborations as a way to test their solutions at a wider scale. Through our structured entrepreneurial support programs and customized venture building partnerships, we were able to identify other opportunities and challenges that exist within the current landscape of single-use plastic alternatives.
The discussions and insights shared during the panel discussions and workshop truly reflected our collective commitment to advancing sustainable practices in the region. We extend our gratitude to all the participants and panelists for their valuable contributions.
To continue driving systemic change, join us in implementing reuse solutions in the region through our Upstream Lab program, or reach us at asiapacific@secondmuse.com.
