ASEAN Conference on Combatting Plastic Pollution 2026: One Region, One Vision (In-person)
Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental threats facing the world's oceans. ASEAN Member States are particularly vulnerable due to their heavy reliance on marine resources for food security, livelihoods, and economic development. Although individual and collective efforts have been undertaken across the region, sustained regional collaboration remains essential to prevent further environmental harm and effectively address the scale of the challenge.
In response, the ASEAN Conference on Combatting Plastic Pollution (ACCPP) was established as a dedicated regional platform for knowledge exchange and collaborative action. First convened in Jakarta in 2023, the conference has since been held annually in Vientiane and Kuala Lumpur, bringing together hundreds of participants each year and culminating in a set of actionable recommendations documented in the conference report.
Building on this momentum, the Philippines, as ASEAN Chair for 2026, will host ACCPP 2026 in Manila under the theme 'One Region, One Vision: Advancing Knowledge and Building Regional Capacity to End Plastic Pollution.' The conference is convened under the patronage of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), co-hosted by ERIA, and supported by AFD, GIZ, GPAP, and UNEP. More than 400 international participants, in person and online, are expected to attend.
The conference aims to provide a platform for sharing knowledge and experiences, foster collaboration and synergies among stakeholders, strengthen coordination of regional initiatives, generate actionable recommendations to accelerate efforts to reduce plastic pollution, and amplify ASEAN's collective voice in global negotiations on plastic pollution.
Sessions
Day 1 | Thursday, 24 September 2026
Session 1: Governance as the Cornerstone of Effective Extended Producer Responsibility for Plastics
Session 2: Unlocking Capital for a Circular Plastics Economy in ASEAN
Session 3: Strengthening Circular Trade and Economic Value Chains for Plastic Waste Management in ASEAN
Session 4: Measuring the Impact: Behaviour Change for Plastic Pollution
Session 5: Decentralized Waste Management in Remote Areas – Success Stories
Day 2 | Friday, 25 September 2026
Session 6: Advancing Circular Plastics in ASEAN: The Role of Product Design and System Integration
Session 7: No Business Too Small: Mobilising ASEAN’s SMEs and Private Sector for a Circular Plastics Economy
Session 8: From River Interception to Recycling: Recovering Plastic from Leakage Pathways