Action Beyond the Forum: Driving Cambodia’s Circular Economy Transition

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Following the successful conclusion of the third Cambodia Circular Economy Forum (CCEF 2026) held earlier this month, momentum continues to build across key national sectors. Convening around 450 government representatives, business leaders, development partners, researchers, and civil society organisations, the forum further strengthened its role as Cambodia’s platform for exchanging ideas, fostering collaboration, and advancing practical circular economy solutions.

Building on the success of its earlier editions — which drew over 300 participants in 2024 and 400 in 2025 — CCEF 2026 underscored the country's growing commitment to sustainable development. Across three intensive days from 30 September to 2 October, discussions spanned circular agriculture, solid waste management, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), circular trade, textile practices, digital tools, and green skills.

Organised under the theme "Circular Economy in Action: From Policy to Prosperity," this year’s forum connected high-level policy vision with concrete market solutions and opportunities for collaboration.

High-Level Commitments to Sustainable Growth

Opening the forum, H.E. Silke Röfer, German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, emphasised Germany’s partnership in sustainable development

"In Europe and Germany, our own journey toward a circular economy has shown that regulatory ambition must go hand in hand with market incentives and behavioral change. Under the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Union has set a target to double its circular material use rate by 2030."

Highlighting the core vision of the national drive, H.E. Dr Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, stated:

"A circular economy is not just about recycling waste into raw materials, but rather changing the way we produce, consume, and manage resources smartly, creatively, ethically, and ensuring no threat to our environment."
 

Adding to this vision, H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, emphasised:"The circular economy prompts us to think differently from the outset, by considering: Can we reduce the use of raw materials? How can we make our products last longer? After use, can these products be repaired or reused? And can the manufacturing by-products of one facility serve as production inputs for another?"

Three days of discussion and exchange

Day 1: Agriculture & Circular Bioeconomy

The opening day explored how circular approaches can create value across agriculture and the bioeconomy:

• Agricultural Innovation: Turning by-products into profit through cashew apple valorisation, the Better Rice Initiative, and cross-border solutions across Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
• Scaling Solutions: Overcoming local refill challenges, driving consumer behavioural change, and bridging the gap between small-scale reuse pilots and national policy.
• Biochar Hub: Unlocking carbon credit opportunities, setting production standards, and boosting soil health alongside local producers and researchers.
• Breakout Session: “Scaling Reuse Systems in Southeast Asia: From Pilot to Policy” explored how to move beyond isolated pilots and develop reuse approaches that are commercially viable and institutionally supported.

Day 2: EPR, Waste Management and Circular Trade 

Day 2 connected policy discussions with practical approaches to solid waste management (SWM), Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), e-waste, and circular trade:

• EPR and Policy: Participants explored Cambodia's solid waste management and EPR landscape, regional approaches, and investment opportunities.
• Circular Economy in Practice: Sessions covered renewable energy components and e-waste, sustainable packaging in garment value chains, and EPR infrastructure.
• Local Action and Circular Trade: Discussions focused on financing and strengthening waste collection services, community engagement, waste segregation, and regional trade in recyclable materials.
• Strategic EPR Roundtable: A closed-door exchange co-organised by GIZ Cambodia and UNDP Cambodia brought together line ministries, technical experts, and industry leaders to define practical building blocks for operationalising EPR in Cambodia. Discussions focused on Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO) setups, fee structures, and sector sequencing across packaging and electronic waste (WEEE).

Day 3: Textile Circularity, Green Skills & Innovation

The final day explored circular practices across Cambodia's textile and garment value chains, alongside digital solutions and workforce development:

• Textile Circularity: Translating policy into action and strengthening circular practices across Cambodia's textile and garment value chains.
• Digital Solutions: Presentations and discussions on Digital Product Passports (DPP), the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), and regional cooperation.
• Green Skills and Innovation: Sessions explored TVET Policy 2026–2035, work-based learning, green jobs, and the role of digital technologies in supporting the green transition.
• Business Connections: B2B matchmaking and a closing panel created opportunities to exchange ideas and explore partnerships for green innovation across ASEAN.

Next Steps

Across three days, CCEF 2026 provided a vital platform to share experiences and explore practical solutions—from agricultural by-products and waste collection to circular trade, textiles, digital tools, and workforce development. The sessions underscored the importance of collaboration among government, businesses, development partners, and communities in advancing Cambodia's circular economy.
The event received wide coverage across national media outlets, including Kiripost, Khmer Times, APSARA MEDIA SERVICES (AMS), Cambodia Investment Review (CIR), Kampuchea Thmey Daily, SBM News, and B2B Asia News.

About CCEF 2026

The Cambodia Circular Economy Forum is a multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and collaboration on Cambodia’s circular transition, convening government, the private sector, development partners, academia and civil society to co-develop practical solutions that deliver economic, social and environmental value.