Founding Statement
On 22 July 2024, the ASEAN Circular Economy Business Alliance (ACEBA) was established in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Read MorePurpose
Achieving net zero for climate, nature, and environment.
About ACEBA
The ASEAN Circular Economy Business Alliance (ACEBA) is a dynamic and growing ASEAN-centric, business-led alliance focused on advancing the circular economy transition in Southeast Asia. Its mission is to drive business action through peer learning, knowledge sharing, networking, and advocacy.
ACEBA champions a principles-based approach to the circular economy to mitigate climate change, reduce waste and pollution, and preserve nature and biodiversity. It promotes innovation and responsible business practices to achieve these goals.
Formally launched on July 22, 2024, in Jakarta, Indonesia, ACEBA is endorsed by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC), the ASEAN Secretariat, and the European Union Delegation to ASEAN.
The founding statement was signed by Thomas Thomas and Rene Van Berkel, co-convenors of ACEBA, and witnessed by HE Sujiro Seam, Ambassador of the European Union to ASEAN, and Zinaida Fadeeva, team leader of the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component.
Download the ACEBA Info Sheet
Towards a Unifying Framework for Business Action for the Circular...
This business engagement paper positions circular economy as an innovation and co-creation framework to break the dependence of products and services on the unsustainable use of natural resources whic...
Read MoreOur History
ACEBA was conceptualized and operationalized through an interactive consensus seeking and fact-finding process from September 2023 to July 2024. This initiative was supported by the technical advisory of the EU SWITCH-Asia Policy Support Component on Sustainable Consumption and Production and Circular Economy, at the request of the ASEAN CSR Network (ACN). The ACN has since transitioned into ARAIBA Sdn Bhd: a purpose-driven, not-for-profit business organization established in 2024 in Malaysia, to advance, through advocacy, best practice sharing, capacity building and networking, the adoption of responsible and inclusive business practices in support of socio-economic integration of Southeast Asia.
A consultative process involving business engagements in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam led to the development and validation of a principles-based unifying framework for business action on the circular economy.
These principles are foundational for ACEBA's advocacy, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building efforts.
This framework addresses the prevailing uncertainty regarding the scope and business case for the circular economy. The five guiding principles focus on:
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Scope
Emphasizing resource circularity, resource efficiency, and resource substitution.
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Rationale
Adopting responsible business practices.
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Means
Encouraging ideation and co-creation.
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Development Contribution
Ensuring net benefits for society and the economy.
Guiding Principles for Business Action in Southeast Asia
1
Net Zero for Climate, Nature and Environment
Circular Economy targets net zero by ending unsustainable resource use as the common root cause of climate change, loss of nature and biodiversity, and accumulation of pollutants and waste, which together constitute the triple planetary crises.
2
Resource Circularity, Efficiency and Substitution
Circular Economy closes natural resource use loops by designing in resource circularity, resource efficiency and resource substitution.
3
Responsible Business
Circular Economy involves business taking responsibility for the impacts on environment and society of the materials and other natural resources that are required throughout the lifecycle of its products and services.
4
Ideation and Co-Creation
Circular Economy frames ideation and co-creation by business and its value chains to innovate and develop circular product and service solutions.
5
Net Benefits
Circular Economy de-risks the economy and society from the impacts and risks of their unsustainable use of natural resources to generate net socio-economic benefit.
Co-convenors
Thomas Thomas
Chairman of ARAIBA
Thomas Thomas is the founder and Chairman of ARAIBA Sdn Bhd, the successor organisation to ASEAN CSR Network (ACN), of which he was the founder and CEO. The ACN was established to promote and enable responsible business conduct in ASEAN Member States.
Thomas has been involved in responsible business, CSR, and sustainability since 2004, when he co-chaired Singapore’s National Tripartite on CSR, and set the direction for business responsibility in Singapore as founder of the Singapore Compact for CSR. Thomas is also the Chair of the ISO26000 Stakeholder Global Network (SGN) since 2022. He has been active with trade unions, co-operatives, the consumer movement, and social enterprises, and also served as a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore. Thomas holds a Master of Arts in Industrial Relations from Warwick University, UK.
Rene Van Berkel
ACEBA International Senior Economy Expert
Rene Van Berkel is a leading expert in circular economy, resource efficiency, and responsible business practice. Since 2023, he is an international expert, contributing amongst others, to the EU SWITCH Asia Policy Support Component, and international faculty at the School of Global Studies, Thammasat University, Thailand.
His 35-year career covers more than 15 years in leadership roles at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in India, Indonesia, and at Headquarters in Austria, and senior academic roles at Curtin University of Technology, Australia, and University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Dr. VAN BERKEL holds a PhD in Environmental Science of the University of Amsterdam, and a Master’s in Environmental Hygiene from Agricultural State University of Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Gil L. Gonzales
Business Advisor
Gil L. Gonzales was formerly Executive Director of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC). The ASEAN BAC was created by ASEAN Leaders in 2013 to help build and promote the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) under the AEC Strategic Blueprint 2025. Gil is an expert on corporate governance, risk management, strategic and corporate planning, and human resource and change management. From 2010 to 2020, he served as Vice President of ASEAN Affairs and Corporate Governance and Risk Management at the SM Investments Corporation, one of the biggest conglomerates in the Philippines. He also held various executive positions in key private and government institutions.
For and of Business in Southeast Asia
Our community is a responsibility initiative of and for business and industry in Southeast Asia. It unites organizations committed to leading by example in adopting circular economy solutions tailored to the region’s needs, benefiting businesses, governments, and communities.
ACEBA comprises participants, country leads, and a regional hub, as outlined in its foundation note.
Regional Hub
ARAIBA Sdn Bhd
ARAIBA Sdn Bhd operates as the regional hub for ACEBA. Established as the successor to the ASEAN CSR Network (ACN), ARAIBA advances the ASEAN Code for Responsible and Inclusive Business, developed in 2019 with the support and endorsement of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC).
It provides access to regional and global best practices, supports country leads, and develops circular economy knowledge products, guidance materials, operational tools, and business practices.