Jakarta, 30 April 2025: The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in collaboration with ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, successfully hosted the webinar ‘From Knowledge to Action: Unlocking the Behavioural Change Toolbox Methodology for ASEAN’. The event aimed to translate insights on behavioural change into practical action by exploring how the behavioural change toolbox methodology can help address key challenges in combatting marine debris. The webinar successfully gathered 115 participants from across the region.
Ms Revina Indra Putri, Advisor for GIZ 3RproMar in the ASEAN region, opened the event with a warm welcome and underscored the urgency of addressing marine plastic pollution. She highlighted that while awareness is essential, lasting change requires structured, evidence-based approaches. To support this, the Behaviour Change Toolbox methodology was introduced as a practical framework for designing, implementing, and evaluating impactful interventions.
Mr Reo Kawamura, Director of the Regional Knowledge Centre, also delivered remarks on the role of behaviour change in tackling plastic pollution. He emphasised that when applied effectively, behaviour change can be a powerful tool in combatting plastic pollution. He shared that ERIA and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) launched the ‘Breaking the Plastic Habit’ project in 2022 and planned to introduce the Behaviour Lab this year to support science-based, socioeconomic behaviour change in ASEAN.
The session continued with Dr Roger Spranz, Co-Founder and Director of Making Oceans Plastic Free, who presented an overview of the Behaviour Change Toolbox methodology. Designed to help practitioners identify the most impactful and feasible interventions, the toolbox also offers instruments for stakeholder engagement and campaign planning, and provides six ready-to-use solutions for various waste challenges.
Ms Sri Handayani (GOPA Infra for GIZ 3RproMar in Manado) and Ms Amelia Tungka (Founder and Director of Daur Sinar Gemilang) then shared their experience from a pilot programme in Manado, Indonesia. The programme team implemented five key behaviour change strategies, distributed 1,000 tumblers to schools, organised educational activities, and created separate waste collection systems. As a result, unmanaged plastic waste decreased by 32%, while plastic leakage into waterways fell by 29%.
Another pilot programme was also implemented across three campuses in Guimaras, the Philippines. Dr Rhea Joy D. Flora, Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences at Guimaras State University, introduced the ‘Save ME’ Project, of which is Project Manager. It aimed to improve solid waste management, advance circular economy research, promote educational advocacy, and foster community engagement in 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). This programme led to heightened awareness, behavioural shifts amongst students and staff, and income-generating opportunities for women recyclers.
The final speaker, Mr Dwayne Appleby, Programme Manager for Sustainable Consumption and Production at IGES, concluded the presentations by highlighting the ‘Breaking the Plastic Habit’ project. He outlined practical steps to help practitioners design and implement behavioural interventions to reduce single-use plastics. He also introduced the Behavioural Lab, a regional initiative uniting organisations across ASEAN to foster knowledge exchange and collaborative dialogue on behavioural change in plastic use.
As the event came to a close, the moderator summarised the key takeaways and expressed gratitude to all participants. The session ended with a motivating call to action, encouraging attendees to continue working towards sustainable solutions.
Research Associate
Jakarta, 30 April 2025: The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in collaboration with ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris, successfully hosted the webinar ‘From Knowledge to Action: Unlocking the Behavioural Change Toolbox Methodology for ASEAN’. The event aimed to translate insights on behavioural change into practical action by exploring how the behavioural change toolbox methodology can help address key challenges in combatting marine debris. The webinar successfully gathered 115 participants from across the region.
Ms Revina Indra Putri, Advisor for GIZ 3RproMar in the ASEAN region, opened the event with a warm welcome and underscored the urgency of addressing marine plastic pollution. She highlighted that while awareness is essential, lasting change requires structured, evidence-based approaches. To support this, the Behaviour Change Toolbox methodology was introduced as a practical framework for designing, implementing, and evaluating impactful interventions.
Mr Reo Kawamura, Director of the Regional Knowledge Centre, also delivered remarks on the role of behaviour change in tackling plastic pollution. He emphasised that when applied effectively, behaviour change can be a powerful tool in combatting plastic pollution. He shared that ERIA and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) launched the ‘Breaking the Plastic Habit’ project in 2022 and planned to introduce the Behaviour Lab this year to support science-based, socioeconomic behaviour change in ASEAN.
The session continued with Dr Roger Spranz, Co-Founder and Director of Making Oceans Plastic Free, who presented an overview of the Behaviour Change Toolbox methodology. Designed to help practitioners identify the most impactful and feasible interventions, the toolbox also offers instruments for stakeholder engagement and campaign planning, and provides six ready-to-use solutions for various waste challenges.
Ms Sri Handayani (GOPA Infra for GIZ 3RproMar in Manado) and Ms Amelia Tungka (Founder and Director of Daur Sinar Gemilang) then shared their experience from a pilot programme in Manado, Indonesia. The programme team implemented five key behaviour change strategies, distributed 1,000 tumblers to schools, organised educational activities, and created separate waste collection systems. As a result, unmanaged plastic waste decreased by 32%, while plastic leakage into waterways fell by 29%.
Another pilot programme was also implemented across three campuses in Guimaras, the Philippines. Dr Rhea Joy D. Flora, Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences at Guimaras State University, introduced the ‘Save ME’ Project, of which is Project Manager. It aimed to improve solid waste management, advance circular economy research, promote educational advocacy, and foster community engagement in 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). This programme led to heightened awareness, behavioural shifts amongst students and staff, and income-generating opportunities for women recyclers.
The final speaker, Mr Dwayne Appleby, Programme Manager for Sustainable Consumption and Production at IGES, concluded the presentations by highlighting the ‘Breaking the Plastic Habit’ project. He outlined practical steps to help practitioners design and implement behavioural interventions to reduce single-use plastics. He also introduced the Behavioural Lab, a regional initiative uniting organisations across ASEAN to foster knowledge exchange and collaborative dialogue on behavioural change in plastic use.
As the event came to a close, the moderator summarised the key takeaways and expressed gratitude to all participants. The session ended with a motivating call to action, encouraging attendees to continue working towards sustainable solutions.
Research Associate
