Makati City, 30 January 2026: The Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris of ERIA was presented with the EPR Partners Leadership Award, an honour conferred by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines in recognition of the Centre’s contributions to advancing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the Philippines.
The award was presented during the Zero to Nature Recognition Awards ceremony, organised by DENR at the New World Hotel. Held in conjunction with International Zero Waste Month, the event was supported by the Philippine Association for Recycling and Material Sustainability (PARMS) and celebrated progress achieved under the EPR Act (Republic Act No. 11898).
The awards were presented across three categories:
Special Citation for Obliged Enterprises
Special Citation for Waste Diverters
EPR Partners Leadership Award
ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre received the EPR Partners Leadership award for its role in shaping national and multi-sector EPR strategies, convening public and private stakeholders, and advancing research and policy on EPR for plastics.
Mr Reo Kawamura, Director for Environmental Policy and Head of the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris at ERIA, accepted the award on behalf of the Institute.
‘We appreciate this recognition from the current ASEAN Chair, which will motivate us to further contribute to plastic circularity in ASEAN,’ he said.
The event brought together EPR stakeholders based in the Philippines and featured a keynote address by Atty. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Secretary of DENR, along with remarks from Atty. Jonas R. Leones, Undersecretary for Policy at DENR, and Engr. Jesus G. Reyes, President of PARMS.
Programme Manager
Makati City, 30 January 2026: The Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris of ERIA was presented with the EPR Partners Leadership Award, an honour conferred by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) of the Philippines in recognition of the Centre’s contributions to advancing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the Philippines.
The award was presented during the Zero to Nature Recognition Awards ceremony, organised by DENR at the New World Hotel. Held in conjunction with International Zero Waste Month, the event was supported by the Philippine Association for Recycling and Material Sustainability (PARMS) and celebrated progress achieved under the EPR Act (Republic Act No. 11898).
The awards were presented across three categories:
Special Citation for Obliged Enterprises
Special Citation for Waste Diverters
EPR Partners Leadership Award
ERIA’s Regional Knowledge Centre received the EPR Partners Leadership award for its role in shaping national and multi-sector EPR strategies, convening public and private stakeholders, and advancing research and policy on EPR for plastics.
Mr Reo Kawamura, Director for Environmental Policy and Head of the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris at ERIA, accepted the award on behalf of the Institute.
‘We appreciate this recognition from the current ASEAN Chair, which will motivate us to further contribute to plastic circularity in ASEAN,’ he said.
The event brought together EPR stakeholders based in the Philippines and featured a keynote address by Atty. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Secretary of DENR, along with remarks from Atty. Jonas R. Leones, Undersecretary for Policy at DENR, and Engr. Jesus G. Reyes, President of PARMS.
Programme Manager
