Bangkok, Thailand, September 10, 2025 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in partnership with the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), launched a new initiative to mobilize financing for plastic waste management infrastructure in the Lower Mekong region. The area is where growing mismanaged plastic waste adversely affects ecosystems, livelihoods, and human health.

Entitled ‘Bridging the Financing Gap for Plastics Circularity Infrastructure through Bankable Projects, Policy, and Knowledge Sharing’, the USD1-million initiative is funded by the Mekong – Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF).

Despite important steps taken by governments, the private sector, and other key players in the region to reduce plastic leakage and promote the circular economy, businesses face significant challenges. Those seeking to build and operate waste collection hubs, sorting and transfer stations, material recovery facilities, recycling plants, and innovative reuse systems often contend with risks due to the lack of a functioning market. This makes mobilizing financing a daunting task for them.

Over the next two years, the initiative will work with governments, financiers, and project developers in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam, to address financing challenges and catalyze a functioning market for recycled plastic waste, targeting USD 50 million in mobilized investment.

As part of the initiative, two plastic waste management projects in Thailand will receive GGGI’s technical support to improve their bankability and attract investors. The project will also use lessons learned from these pilots, combined with international best practices, to develop and propose policy recommendations for targeted municipalities in Thailand and to facilitate regional knowledge-sharing activities with government officials, financiers, and project developers.

The launch event gathered 45 representatives from government agencies, private sector associations, and financial institutions.

Wijarn Simachaya, President of the Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), said: “TEI has played a key role in driving multi-stakeholder cooperation, conducting academic research to reduce single-use plastics, preparing standards for responsible plastic waste trade as well as sorted and recycled plastics, and applying the principles of the circular economy at the local level. We stand ready to support efforts fostering the smart use of plastics and build sustainability for Thailand and the region.”

Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of the Mekong – Republic of Korea Cooperation Fund, said: “Through collaboration and innovative financing mechanisms, we can create sustainable projects that not only address the urgent issue of plastic waste but also pave the way for a circular economy in the Mekong region. This project, led by GGGI, is a critical step towards building a resilient future for our communities and ecosystems.”

Jisu Min, GGGI Country Representative of Thailand and ASEAN Program Development Lead, said: “If policies, technology, and attitudes of consumers collectively support a price for recycled plastic that offers an acceptable risk-adjusted return, the financing gap may no longer be a significant barrier”.

About the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) was founded as a treaty-based international, inter-governmental organization in 2012 at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. GGGI supports its Member States in transitioning their economies toward a green growth model that simultaneously achieves poverty reduction, social inclusion, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. With 52  Member States and 30 Partner countries and regional integration organizations in the process of accession, GGGI delivers programs and projects in over 50 countries. These initiatives encompass developing innovative green growth solutions, technical support, capacity building, policy planning & implementation, and assistance in building a pipeline of bankable green investment projects, project financing, investments, and knowledge sharing. GGGI’s work contributes to its Member States’ efforts to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals and the Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement.

About the Thailand Environment Institute Foundation (TEI)

TEI is a non-profit, non-governmental organization, focusing on environmental and sustainable development issues. It was established in May 1993 to drive sound environmental policies; assist the community on natural resources management; raise public awareness on environmental and sustainable development; and provide training to strengthen environmental management capacity. TEI strives to develop knowledge; serve as a reliable and modern source of information; and promote collaboration and coordination among multi-sectoral partners on the environment and sustainable development.

Collaborating closely with its partners such as the private sector, government agencies, local communities, civil society, academia, and international organizations, TEI has been contributing to a number of environmental policy formulation and implementation, and meaningful sustainable development progress in Thailand.

About the Mekong Institute

The Mekong Institute was established in1996, by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Thai Department of Technical and Economic Cooperation to promote economic development and cooperation in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Since 2009, under a Royal Decree signed by the King of Thailand, MI has grown into a recognized intergovernmental organization (IGO) represented by all six GMS countries, namely Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Throughout the years, MI has played a transformational role in capacity development in the region, focusing on human resources and learning programs to enhance regional development, cooperation, and integration. The institute provides training, conducts research, offers advice, and facilitates policy dialogues on topics that matter to the GMS.

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For more information, visit:  https://gggi.org

Contact
Surasak Glahan, National Public Outreach and Communication Consultant
+66 61 450 7337
surasak.glahan@gggi.org

© Photo Credit: GGGI Thailand