Resource depletion, unsustainable patterns of raw material consumption, inefficiencies in product value chains, and climate change increasingly threaten ASEAN’s economic resilience and development. The prevailing economic model of ‘take, make, dispose’ wastes valuable materials and resources. It is increasingly recognised that ASEAN requires a new economic model that transcends the existing linear growth paradigm.
The ASEAN Circular Economy Forum (ACEF) serves as an annual platform for the ASEAN policy community to engage with stakeholders and discuss ways to advance a circular transition more effectively through national policies and regional initiatives. It brings together government officials from ASEAN Member States (AMS) and ASEC officers from the socio-cultural (ASCC) and economic (AEC) communities, reflecting the cross-cutting nature and multiple objectives of a circular transition. The ACEF stands out as a unique platform due to its emphasis on ASEAN integration and cooperation, stakeholder dialogues, and extensive participation of government officials from various sectors.
The ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD), which hosts the ASEAN Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform (ACEP), organises ACEF in collaboration with key partners. The event is closely planned and coordinated with the ASEAN Secretariat Environment Division (ASEC ED) and relevant divisions of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
The first ACEF was held in Indonesia in November 2023, centred around the theme “Paving ASEAN’s Path to a Carbon-neutral Circular Economy”. It was co-organised with Business Finland and the EU through the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI). The second Forum took place in Thailand in October 2024 under the theme “Guiding the Transition – ASEAN and EU Approaches to Circular Innovation and Entrepreneurship”. It was co-organised with C asean, Business Finland, the Hanns Seidel Foundation, and the EU through E-READI and other partners under the Team Europe Initiative (TEI).
The ACEF rotates among ASEAN Member States to highlight its role as a regional platform. This also creates opportunities to engage relevant stakeholder groups and expert communities across the region.
ACEF 2025
In 2025, the ACEF is scheduled to take place in Malaysia, which holds the ASEAN Chairmanship this year, with a theme closely tied to the circular economy transition: “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” Central to this theme is Malaysia’s concept of MADANI, which aims to promote a more inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous society. Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his opening remarks at the Khazanah Megatrends Forum on 7 October 2024, stated that the development pathway must be forward-looking, and solutions must serve the well-being of the people, addressing inequality and fostering a mindset of shared responsibility and innovation.
Transitioning to a circular economy can help the region achieve these objectives. Inclusivity and Sustainability also provide an opportunity for regional community-building efforts and enhancing intra-ASEAN trade and investment. Implementing circular solutions in key sectors will play a crucial part in achieving the objectives of ASEAN’s Community Vision 2045. Hence, under its Chairmanship, Malaysia plans several initiatives specifically focused on advancing a circular economy, including the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence for Green Transition, which will provide training for MSMEs. Malaysia is also actively promoting the transition to circular domestic practices through the Circular Economy Blueprint for Solid Waste and the Circular Economy Policy Framework for the Manufacturing Sector.