Circular Economy Business Change Makers Initiative for Southeast Asia

WHEN:  11-13 March 2026     I    TIME:  12:00 – 17:00 (GMT+8)   I  VENUE: Seda Marina Bay Hotel, Manila, Philippines  

Background

Southeast Asia has committed to regional Circular Economy development through the 2021 ASEAN Circular Economy Framework and complementary national Circular Economy and related Sustainable Consumption and Production action plans, strategies and roadmaps in majority of ASEAN Member States. Their success hinges on active contribution and innovation by businesses and other organizations to develop and implement locally appropriate circular products, services and processes. As frontrunner companies are achieving tangible business benefits and doing good for planet and society, other companies are to follow suit for which they need access to circular business advice and services – a niche this Circular Business Change Makers Initiative aims to fill.

Business for the Circular Economy

Circular Economy is most often positioned as the opposite of the current linear take-make-use-waste economic model, to arrive at a take-make-use-recover and repeat model based on closed circular material flows where nothing goes to waste. Despite widespread appreciation for this aspirational idea, there is no widely-accepted operationalization for Circular Economy and this feeds disinterest, inaction and greenwashing. Even with this ongoing ambiguity, business can take responsible steps towards circularity. The number of Southeast Asian businesses acting towards the Circular Economy is on the rise, and their collective experiences demonstrate tangible business opportunities in terms of savings on materials, energy and water use and disposal costs, accessing new business and market opportunities and getting involved in the circular, low carbon transformation that has started.

ASEAN Circular Economy Business Alliance (ACEBA)

ACEBA is a business led, ASEAN centric initiative to foster business leadership and action on the Circular Economy, coordinated and promoted by ARAIBA Sdn Bhd, a not-for-profit business organization that works to promote and facilitate responsible business practices in ASEAN and beyond. ACEBA was launched in July 2024, with the participation of the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN Business Advisory Council and the European Union Delegation to ASEAN, and operates with the technical support of the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component.

Following extensive business and stakeholders’ consultations around Southeast Asia, ACEBA developed a principles-based Circular Economy framework for business, which serves as the foundation for its advocacy, knowledge sharing and networking activities. Moreover, ACEBA has developed over 85 Circular Economy business cases covering diverse sectors and types and sizes of business from Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Their collective experiences have been compiled in a business guide for unlocking the circularity opportunity, which provides a flexible action menu for businesses to start, chart and implement their circularity transition.

Circular Business Change Makers Initiative

With the support from the EU SWITCH-Asia programme, ACEBA is launching its circular business change makers initiative. The initiative is addressing the need to create cadres of circular business change makers that can support businesses in their home country to start circularizing their products, services and operations. Through their services, the change makers are expected to support businesses to map their circularity opportunities and risks, navigate circular ambitions and develop actionable strategies, leaving space for sector and technology experts to support development and implementation of specific technical and business model solutions. The change makers may do so through diverse service packages, including advocacy and knowledge sharing, training, mentoring, facilitation of design workshops, etc.

Inaugural Workshop and Planning Meeting Objectives

A 2.5 day regional workshop and planning meeting is being convened in Manila (Philippines) during 11-13 March 2026. The two-fold objective is:

1. To train participants on Circular Economy as a responsible business and innovation strategy, based on the business cases, business framework and business guidance developed by ACEBA; and
2. To scope standard circular business service packages and plan the development of requisite materials and arrangements for their national roll out in participating ASEAN Member States.

Target audience

Participants in the inaugural workshop and planning meeting are expected to be available and contribute to the national roll out of this Change Makers Initiative in their home country during 2026. As potential future Circular Business Change Makers, participants are expected to:

• Have completed a relevant first academic degree (Bachelor or equivalent) in management, engineering, technology and/or environment;
• Have a minimum of five years professional experience as a business mentor, trainer and/or advisor in their home country, including a significant share thereof with Micro-, Small and Medium Enterprises; and
• Be associated with an established national professional institution providing business support services, in particular on innovation, change management, design and/or sustainable development.

Tentative Agenda