Comparative Analysis of Legal Frameworks for Packaging Waste Management in Selected Countries and Legislative Recommendations for Thailand

Abstract

Packaging is an important component of products that are manufactured to maintain the condition and quality of the product before it reaches the consumer. It also helps promote sales for manufacturers. When these packages are used, they become packaging waste, which becomes a burden for government agencies to manage according to existing laws. The lack of a legal framework that considers a whole life-cycle of packaging in Thailand has led to problems in packaging waste management. Managing used packaging together with solid waste also results in the loss of resources that should be reused.

In foreign countries, the concept of sustainable waste management has been applied based on three important environmental principles: waste management hierarchy, circular economy, and extended producer responsibility (EPR). Currently, EPR laws have been enacted, divided into 1) EPR system regulatory agency, 2) packaging manufacturer responsibilities, 3) Producer Responsibility (PRO), 4) implementation system, and 5) system supervision.

The research group has revised the criteria and foreign laws that specify these principles to be appropriate for the Thai context. The draft of the Sustainable Packaging Management Act B.E. .... This draft act is considered the first step in setting mandatory requirements to make the design, production, distribution and use of packaging in Thailand more environmentally friendly, which will help reduce the burden on the government in managing packaging waste.