Aligning with the “Brunei Vision 2035”, a national strategy that prioritizes sustainable development and environmental protection, the government of Brunei Darussalam has committed itself to spearheading sustainable packaging initiatives to mitigate environmental impact and promote eco-friendly practices among businesses and people in the country.
To support Brunei`’s national agenda on promoting the sustainable packaging, the ASEAN – Japan Centre, in collaboration with the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), organized the “Workshop on Green Packaging and Labelling in Brunei Darussalam” on 3 February 2025 in Brunei Darussalam. The workshop also served as an opportunity to consider suitable packaging materials for export products from Brunei.
Main image：Dr. Hajah May Fa`ezah Haji Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economy and Council Director of the ASEAN-Japan Centre for Brunei Darussalam (fourth from right), pose for a photo with Ms. MORI Rika, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam (second from right), Mr. Chairat Liengkajornkiet, Director of Programme Operations, the ASEAN-Japan Centre (fourth from left), speakers and senior managements of the Brunei Economic Development Board during the workshop`s opening ceremony at the Workshop
Objectives and Goals
Our workshop intends to enhance Brunei participants’ knowledge and skills on Japan’s innovative technology in sustainable packaging and labelling. We also aimed to provide insights from Japan to address environmental issues and support sustainable economic growth in Brunei and to foster lasting business links between Japanese and Brunei companies for implementing sustainable packaging and labelling design solutions.
Activities and Highlights
The workshop opened with a welcome address by Dr. Hajah May Fa`ezah Haji Ahmad Ariffin, Permanent Secretary (Economy, Trade & Industry), Ministry of Finance and Economy and Council Director of the ASEAN-Japan Centre for Brunei Darussalam. She highlighted the importance of sustainable packaging in Brunei Darussalam as a critical area for development, as it plays a vital role in enabling businesses, especially MSMEs, to scale and compete effectively in regional and international markets.
Next, Ms. MORI Rika, First Secretary, Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam, emphasized an excellent bilateral relationship between Japan and Brunei Darussalam, especially the year 2024 marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Then, Mr. Chairat Liengkajornkiet, the AJC’s representative, gave his opening remarks by stressing on the AJC’s unwavering commitments in implementing its programmes and activities that align well with the current trends and actual requests of Brunei Darussalam. He also mentioned that this workshop in Brunei was the second phase of the “Capacity Building for Brunei Darussalam towards Advancing Circular Packaging Design and Labelling” which was conducted last year on 4 – 8 March 2024 in Tokyo and suburban areas, with the aim to reach out to wider participants from both government and business sectors; and to provide more opportunities for developing actual business linkages between Brunie and Japanese businesses in the field of sustainable packaging and labelling.
The opening session was followed by key presentations from Brunei and Japanese experts, starting from the presentation on “Small Changes, Big Impact: A step-by-step guide to sustainable packaging” by Dr. Syazana Abdulla Lim, Co-Chair Technical Committee on Food Packaging of National Standards Committee on Food. She presented the key characteristics and different types of food packaging materials such as glass, metal, plastic, wood, paper/paperboard, with their pros and cons. She then introduced the concept of “Green Food Packaging” and how to choose sustainable food packaging materials in replacement of conventional packaging.
The second speaker, Mr. MAEKAWA Satoshi, Director and General Manager of Plastics Division, Japan Containers and Packaging Recycling Association (JCPRA) then presented on the topic of “Plastic Packaging and Product Recycling System in Japan”. He explained the main activities of JCPRA in managing the product recycling system in Japan, the brief introduction of the “Containers and Packaging Recycling Law” and the “Plastics Products Recycling Law”, and exchanged ideas and opinions with Brunei participants about the current situations and future of recycling business scheme. He also introduced the “Deposit Refund Systems” (DRS) for beverage containers for can, PET bottles, glass bottles, which starts being implemented in some countries including EU members.
The final presentation was conducted by Mr. KAJII Kenichi, Manager, Global Packaging Subdivision, Living & Industry Department, TOPPAN INC. He introduced some examples of sustainable packaging used in Japan and other countries.
The workshop concluded with an open Q&A, where participants could ask questions directly to the speakers.
Key Takeaways
- The most important aspect of package design is to decide what to export from Brunei.Quality of the packaging materials for export products is one of the most critical features of the package which will ensure the product stays fresh longer.
- Sustainability matters – recyclable and compostable packaging should still maintain shelf stability.
- This workshop shared invaluable insights into the current practices of packaging collection and recycling system in Japan. As we consider applying Japan`s proven system and scheme in Brunei Darussalam, adapting this know-how to local conditions and cultural contexts is necessary for widespread adoption and effectiveness in promoting sustainable packaging throughout the region.
- The packaging industry in Brunei Darussalam is still in early stage and the domestic market remains relatively small, representing a significant gap that needs to be addressed to fully support the MSME ecosystem. However, there is immense potential for companies to step in and bridge this gap which will not only cater to the needs of local MSMEs but also tap into the broader regional opportunities such as in neighbour country markets.
Way Forward and Engagement
This workshop underlines the critical need for continuous follow-up action on further discussions between Brunei Darussalam and Japanese businesses to ensure significant future engagements in the field of green packaging and labelling. The Centre’s ultimate goal is to foster the business partnerships or co-creation between Brunei and Japanese companies with an aim to increase prospects for Bruneian products to be exported to the Japanese markets in the sustainable manner.
