อุปสรรคด้านกฎหมายต่อการส่งเสริมแนวคิดเศรษฐกิจหมุนเวียน ในประเทศไทย: กรณีอุตสาหกรรมพลาสติก

Abstract

Thailand has adopted the Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) model to promote the Circular Economy (CE) as a national strategy to ensure sustainable development. While this policy encourages resource efficiency and waste reduction throughout production and consumption cycles, practical implementation remains hindered by several legal obstacles. This article analyzes regulatory barriers affecting CE-aligned businesses, with a focus on the plastic industry. The study examines legal challenges across the value chain—from reducing virgin material use, promoting recycled content, and supporting refill business models, to the management of post-consumer plastics and the establishment of Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). Findings reveal that existing laws still emphasize safety control and licensing over CE promotion. Key issues include labeling regulations that disallow label-free water bottles, lack of mandatory recycled content standards, strict controls on refill stations and informal waste collectors (saleng), and restrictive zoning for recycling infrastructure. The paper proposes legal reforms at both policy and operational levels and calls for a comprehensive legal framework to integrate waste and CE management. Structural reform is necessary for Thailand’s successful transition toward a truly circular and sustainable economy.