Asia Product Sustainability and Circular Economy Regulations in 2025: Key Regulatory Shifts by Product Type
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2025 marked a decisive moment for product sustainability, circular economy principles, and regulatory transparency across Asia. Many countries’ governments are no longer focusing only on national strategies or high-level environmental goals.
Since last year, they have been introducing product-specific obligations that cover mainly packaging, electronics, batteries, appliances, and other resource-intensive goods. Thereby, compliance has been increasingly determined by the game companies play in the market, which ensures their access to it and good reputation.
In this article, we will summarize the evolving compliance landscape across Asia that started in 2025 and reverberates at the beginning and throughout 2026. We organized the text by product category, exploring the new and upcoming regulations of giants like China, Japan, South Korea, and India. Also, we will understand how significant players such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore are dealing with sustainability and circularity, as well as the emerging markets from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Packaging, Plastics, and Single-Use Products
The concern about packaging—especially plastic packaging—was a central focus of Asia product sustainability and circular economy regulations in 2025. Rules on recyclability, traceability, and manufacturers’ responsibility have been tightened up, especially regarding high-volume consumer and packaging for the logistics life cycle.
In China, green standards for express delivery packaging became mandatory in 2025. Now, companies must report to authorities measures to reduce excessive packaging and recycling efforts. The logistics industry is also required to disclose compliance information, demonstrating the improvements toward transparency and accountability in the sector.
In India, QR codes or barcodes on plastic bags and multilayer packaging became mandatory in the last year. These codes must display important information about producer responsibility to enhance digital traceability and discourage deceptive environmental claims.
Japan and South Korea are moving toward mandating the use of recycled plastic in certain products and packaging. Manufacturers must submit usage plans and periodic compliance reports. Failing to meet the proposed limits may result in penalties or corrective measures.
The Philippines have been debating broad restrictions and bans on the use of disposable plastics, with the possible application of consumption taxes. Although many proposals are still under discussion, the effort to reduce packaging waste is becoming a legal requirement rather than a voluntary initiative.
Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) and E-Waste
With the goal of increasing sustainability measures for Asian products and circular economy regulations in 2025, the EEA (European Economic Area) has gone beyond the elimination of end-of-life products. This remains a trend for 2026. These measures are expected to cover the entire product life cycle, from design and storage to repair, recycling, and information disclosure.
China proposed a major update to the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) pollution control standard. It replaces its old structure with stricter and more detailed requirements to enhance control over storage, disassembly, utilization, and final disposal. It also clarifies the categories of regulated electronic waste.
Vietnam is preparing to introduce one of Asia’s most comprehensive Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems. Manufacturers and importers of electrical and electronic equipment will be required to meet mandatory recycling targets, register annual recycling plans, and publish the results. Financial contributions may also apply to support national waste treatment programs.
Vietnam has also tightened the control of the importation of used IT equipment. This is supposed to allow imports only for limited purposes, like research or warranty fulfillment, subjecting them to strict approval and notification requirements.
What is gaining momentum in the region, especially in South Korea and the Philippines, is the Right to Repair (R2R) draft for digital electronic products. South Korea has proposed mandatory repairability ratings and labeling, as well as the obligation to provide repair manuals and spare parts. In the Philippines, the draft requires manufacturers to provide diagnostic tools and repair information on fair terms.
Batteries, Electric Vehicles, and Energy Storage
Due to their environmental impact, safety risks, and critical role in energy transition technologies, batteries are increasingly getting regulated in Asia.
Since last year, India has required QR codes on batteries, battery packs, and equipment containing them. These codes include EPR registration details, which allow regulators and consumers to track compliance information about them throughout the supply chain.
A product carbon footprint labeling and certification system was implemented in phases by China in 2025. Batteries—especially lithium-ion batteries—are among the first products included in the pilot catalog. Each certified product can display an official label with information about its carbon footprint. But to do so, manufacturers must provide verified emissions data and demonstrate ongoing reduction efforts.
Hong Kong has introduced licensing requirements for facilities handling electric vehicle battery waste, reinforcing responsibility throughout the product life cycle.
In Indonesia, vehicle batteries are a strategic priority in the country’s roadmap to a circular economy. The focus is on developing recycling infrastructure and ecosystems, not just waste disposal.
Energy-Using Products and Energy Efficiency Labeling
In the context of Asia product sustainability and circular economy regulations in 2025, energy efficiency remains one of the most mature areas, although one that is rapidly expanding. By 2025, several countries have expanded the scope of mandatory labeling and increased performance thresholds.
China has updated its Energy Efficiency Labeling Catalog to include 38 types of products, including household appliances, lighting equipment, motors, and commercial products. The implementation rules have been revised to apply to products such as air purifiers, induction cookers, motors, computers, and commercial refrigeration equipment. Transition periods have been granted, but full compliance will be required by 2027-2028.
India has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of its Bureau of Energy Efficiency labeling system. The new draft regulations require more detail on labels, QR codes, stricter compliance mechanisms, and revised fee structures. The new measures apply to refrigerators, air conditioners, water heaters, televisions, washing machines, lighting products, transformers, and solar devices.
In Singapore, the mandatory energy efficiency framework has been expanded to include commercial water heaters and storage refrigerators. Suppliers must now comply with Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), labeling, and registration requirements. Additional safety obligations may apply to products using flammable refrigerants.
Thailand has implemented new mandatory updated energy efficiency standards for room air conditioners. In Malaysia, a new legal framework has been introduced that requires energy labeling and certification of electrical products sold on the domestic market.
Water-Using Products and Water Efficiency Labeling
When it comes to water efficiency, labeling is becoming increasingly important, particularly in regions facing water scarcity.
China has proposed new amendments to the Water Efficiency Labeling Catalog, China has published the 2025 revised edition of the Water Efficiency Labeling Catalog, which covers toilets, smart toilets, dishwashers, showers, faucets, and water purifiers. These new rules feature staggered deadlines and grace periods for existing stock.Even though water efficiency laws are less regulated than the energy efficiency ones, the former have advanced toward mandatory labeling measures, performance standards, and transparency for consumers in the context of Asian regulations on product sustainability and the circular economy in 2025.
Carbon Footprint Labeling and Climate Transparency
Following the example of energy efficiency, governments have also been regulating greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life cycle of products since 2025.
In China, a mandatory carbon footprint labeling system has been created, one of the most advanced structures globally. Still in the pilot phase, it includes batteries, photovoltaic modules, air conditioners, and computers. This labeling system proposes the verification of emissions throughout the product’s life cycle, with companies committing to reducing emissions, along with specific implementation rules per product.
This Chinese approach establishes a verifiable national standard for the disclosure of carbon footprint information. It also signals that concern about climate impacts will increasingly influence access to product markets.
In addition to China, Taiwan and South Korea are exploring analog mechanisms through regulations related to eco-design and circular labeling schemes.
Textiles, Construction, and Resource-Intensive Products
The textile, construction, and other resource-intensive industries have emerged as priority sectors for Asian regulations on product sustainability and the circular economy in 2025.
Taiwan has developed a roadmap for the circular economy by 2050, which identifies the textile, construction, electronics, and plastics industries as key sectors. This roadmap focuses on eco-design, recycled content, modularity, durability, and the dissemination of digital information about products.
Indonesia has created a national roadmap for the circular economy that also prioritizes the textile, electronics, construction, and retail plastic packaging sectors. The first phase of implementation takes place between 2025 and 2034, with the establishment of specific regulations for each sector.
Vietnam’s EPR proposal covers textiles and vehicles. Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea have introduced new requirements for the use of recycled materials and resource circularity in various types of products.
Conclusion
Asia product sustainability and circular economy regulations in 2025 reflect a significant shift in product governance. It’s a trend that compliance obligations are increasingly defined by product characteristics rather than national borders.
Producers who adopt practices like circularity, labeling, repairability, and carbon transparency early on will have an advantage in accessing markets and staying competitive as regulations develop across Asia.For more in-depth information about this theme, please go to our whitepaper Asia Product Compliance: Regulatory Trends in Major Markets in 2025, written by our subject matter experts Giselle Chia and Lynn Chiam.
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