The two-day intensive training workshop on “Measurement and Implementation of Circular Economy in Southeast Asia” was held on September 26-27, 2023, by the Economy & Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Organized for researchers from Southeast Asian nations, the workshop aimed to deepen their understanding of circular economy principles and enhance their skills in quantifying and implementing circular economy strategies effectively. The distinguished resource person was Professor Almas Heshmati from Jönköping University, Sweden – a renowned expert with over 200 publications in environmental economics, productivity analysis, and sustainable development.
Prof. Almas Heshmati gave the instruction on how to measure the Circular Economy Index
Workshop content and outcomes
Day 1 commenced with an overview of circular economy concepts, contrasting them with the traditional linear “take-make-waste” model. Participants learned to compute the multidimensional Circular Economy Index, a tool to measure how well a country/region is transitioning towards circularity across various sectors. The Environmental Performance Index (EPI), which ranks countries on environmental health and ecosystem vitality, was also covered in depth.
The second day, they were focused on two other indices – the (Sustainable) Development Infrastructure Index and the Environmental Efficiency Index. While the former evaluates a nation’s readiness to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the latter quantifies how productively ecological resources are utilized to drive economic growth. Integrating theory with practical applications, discussions revolved around analyzing Southeast Asia’s current circular economy performance using these indices and identifying major barriers, enablers, and best practices.
Through interactive sessions, case studies, and hands-on exercises, participants learned to calculate the indices, interpret results, and formulate data-driven circular economy roadmaps tailored to their local contexts. Sharing perspectives from different countries enriched the cross-learnings.
A discussion with participant
Participant testimonials
Kanittha Tambunlertchai from Thailand, part of her nation’s circular economy task force, stated: “This workshop enhanced my expertise in quantifying the circular transition. The knowledge will be invaluable as we finetune Thailand’s national circular economy action plan.”
Pham Anh Huyen from Vietnam’s Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment added: “The methodologies and measurement frameworks covered will allow us to develop a more robust, scientifically-grounded circular economy strategy with clear targets and monitoring mechanisms for Vietnam.”
A discussion with participant
Two PhD scholars from Korea and one from India also attended, keen on incorporating circular economy principles into their research.
Participants in the training course
The workshop concluded with participants receiving certificates with a comprehensive circular economy toolbox to drive sustainability initiatives through an interdisciplinary, data-driven approach in their home countries. Most were also presenters at the 2023 International Conference on Economics, Law and Government, which focused on Accelerating Inclusive Green Transition in Developing Countries, which the UEH University organized following the EEPSEA workshop.