The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has teamed up with its network partners and 48 new members to announce guidelines for the return and reuse of packaging. This initiative is in preparation for the upcoming Sustainable Packaging Management Act, which is expected to be enacted in 2027, closing the legal loopholes left by previous waste laws, under which local administrative organizations are only responsible for collecting and disposing of waste without sorting it.
Thai entrepreneurs, both large and small, need to be proactive as many measures abroad impact exports. Once the Sustainable Packaging Management Act is enacted, every company will need to comply. Currently, the Packaging and Recycling Management Institute for the Environment (TIPMSE), under the FTI, has coordinated with both public and private sectors to prepare for the mandatory transition. It is expected that the law will be enforced in 2027.
The industrial sector has been involved from the beginning. TIPMSE has played a central role in preparing for the law, including providing input on the development of the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) draft law, developing incentive measures, creating databases for the EPR system, promoting Design-for-Recycling (D4R) principles, and encouraging action across the responsibility chain. It has also implemented the EPR principles through pilot programs, such as the Pack Back project in Chonburi.
The development of the EPR mechanism, using a production-sector system, will be a crucial tool and strategy in reducing greenhouse gas emissions to achieve the Net Zero goal. This aligns with the government’s policy to promote the “BCG” (Bio-Circular-Green Economy) model, which leverages Thailand’s strengths to drive sustainable development.
Source: Prachachat
