Circular Economy

As global efforts to address resource constraints, climate change, and plastic pollution intensify, the circular economy has emerged as a cross-cutting agenda spanning policy, industry, and urban strategy. Against this backdrop, in February 2026, IGES Executive Director, Hiroshi Ono, participated in three major events on circular economy, where he shared IGES’s expertise and presented strategic directions for advancing the implementation of the circular economy. His interventions highlighted IGES’s contributions in three areas: measures to address plastics in the tourism sector, the integration of circular economy into urban policy and the SDGs, and the strengthening of cross-sector collaboration.

At the UNDP Regional Workshop in Yokohama: “Promoting Circular Policies and Business Solutions to Address Plastic Pollution in the Tourism Sector,” Ono introduced the evolution and key characteristics of Japan’s circular economy policies. Key points included:

• The transition from waste management-centred policies to a sound material-cycle society
• The development and expansion of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems
• Integrated approaches combining policy and business solutions in the tourism sector

He shared IGES’s accumulated knowledge from policy research and implementation of practical initiatives, contributing to discussions on reducing plastic use in the tourism sector in Southeast Asia.

At the “JICA Clean City Initiative (JCCI) International Seminar 2026,” hosted by JICA, Ono delivered a keynote speech titled “Promoting the Circular Economy through Co-creation and Innovation.” Key points included:

• State of affairs related to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
• Emerging global trends since the adoption of the SDGs, including heightened resource security concerns and strengthened supply chain regulations
• The need to upgrade collection and separation systems at the urban level

At the 21st J4CE Public-Private Dialogue and Business Networking Event held on 27 February, Ono reviewed J4CE’s achievements to date and presented its future direction. He emphasised the importance of strategically promoting Japan’s strengths and expanding international partnerships. Key points included:

• Strengthening the international dissemination of circular technologies and business models developed by Japanese companies and industry associations
• Enhancing the J4CE platform to facilitate and operationalise cross-business collaboration locally, domestically, and internationally

Through these three engagements, Hiroshi Ono underscored that the circular economy is not merely about improving waste management systems, but represents a broader economic transformation integrating resource efficiency, industrial competitiveness, and climate action.
IGES will continue to support the implementation of the circular economy in Asia and globally through policy research, international dialogue, and the promotion of public-private collaboration.