The National Environment Service (NES) recently participated in the Asia Pacific Circular Economy Roundtable & Hotspot (APCER), held in Taipei from 20–23 October 2025. The gathering brought together over 50 countries, 450 participants sharing practical ways to reduce waste, design longer-lasting products, and create systems that support reuse and repair rather than disposal.
Representing the Cook Islands were Matthew Rima and Sandee Cook, who joined government officials, researchers, and industry leaders to learn how circular economy approaches are working across the region.
A key message from APCER was that circular economy is more than recycling. It starts with how products are designed, purchased, used, repaired, and reused. Many countries presented real examples of reuse and repair systems, circular procurement, and digital product passports being developed for electronics and solar panels.
“The shift to a circular economy relies on everyday decisions by families, businesses, schools, importers and government. APCER helped us see practical ways to support that change.” said Matthew Rima Building on this momentum, the GEF-8 RESPONSE (Reducing Single-Use Plastics on Small Island Economies) project supports the Cook Island’s transition toward a circular economy by reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable alternatives. Implemented over five years, the project strengthens policy frameworks, encourages community-led initiatives, and partners with the private sector to reduce reliance on single-use plastics and enhance local capacity for waste prevention, reuse, and recycling.
