DOST: EU-ASEAN dialogue to focus on plastic waste management, green technology


The fifth leg of the European Union (EU)-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) webinar series, which will be held on June 24, will focus on plastic waste management in marine environment.

(PIXABAY / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) announced this Monday, June 7, in a Facebook post.

"The fifth EU-ASEAN Webinar Series is scheduled on June 24, 2021 that will focus on the innovative approaches in managing plastic wastes in the marine environment,” it said.

The DOST said the initiative aims to provide a platform for dialogues on green technology markets, particularly among innovators, and to promote EU-ASEAN Technology Cooperation and Transfer.

"The focus on plastic value chain management can facilitate discussions on the present and future of plastic waste management and its key elements, including new technologies and solutions on plastic waste consolidation, segregation, and recycling to close the loop towards a circular economy,” it said.

The DOST together with the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), with the support of the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI) and the ASEAN Secretariat S&T Division hosted the EU-ASEAN Dialogue on GreenTech & Innovation Mapping: Green Technologies for Plastic Value Chain Management Webinar Series.

DOST Secretary Fortunato “Boy” T. de la Peña had expressed DOST’s commitment to continue promoting EU-ASEAN Technology cooperation and transfer, particularly on plastic wastes management, as the E-READI was implementing the initiative EU-ASEAN Dialogue on Green Technology & Innovation Mapping (GreenTech) in cooperation with ASEAN.

The DOST started holding the webinars in February this year "to amplify awareness, create platforms for dialogues on technology markets and innovations, and promote EU-ASEAN Technology cooperation and transfer.”

"These webinars offer a platform for dialogue between ASEAN and European stakeholders in the plastic wastes management domain where advanced and future perspectives of plastic waste management and its key elements are discussed; new technologies and solutions are presented; and technology suppliers and users can meet to lay the grounds for future collaboration,” de la Peña said in a report.