Introduction – Business and Policy Rationale for Circular Economy in ASEAN and East Asia

The transition to a circular economy is a unique opportunity for fast-growing Asian economies to be resource efficient, competitive, and innovative. The circular economy aims to eradicate wasteful use of raw materials and energy from the manufacturing process as well as systematically throughout the various life cycles, and to reuse the by-products. By creating an enabling policy framework for circular economy, government can also motivate corporate leaders to achieve greater benefits for sustainable development. This book investigates the challenges and opportunities of how countries and corporations are able to strike a better balance between economic growth and resource efficiency stewardship in the context of the emerging paradigm on circular economy policy. Through analysis of a number of case studies, this book also highlights immediate and relatively easy-to-implement circular thinking based on current policy approaches and market trends.