Leading industry voices at APCER & Hotspot 2025 highlight how Digital Product Passports and cross-industry partnerships are driving circular economy adoption across Asia Pacific.
Context: A Regional Dialogue on Circular Transformation
At the Asia Pacific Circular Economy Roundtable (APCER & Hotspot 2025) held in Taipei, Taiwan, leading experts from the region gathered to discuss the pathways toward a circular economy — an emerging paradigm that redefines growth by decoupling it from resource consumption and waste.
The distinguished panel featured:
- Dr. Chun-Hsu Lin, Director, Center for Green Economy, Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research – Moderator
- Frank Shou, Head of Environmental Initiatives, Asia Pacific, Apple
- Vivian Tai, APJC Regional Lead & Spokesperson for Product Sustainability and Circular Economy, Dell Technologies
- Grace Liu, Corporate Sustainability Officer, Acer Incorporated
- Steve Huang, Vice President of R&D, Compal Electronics, Inc.
The discussion centered around two interconnected topics:
- The development and implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP) — a tool for transparency, traceability, and circularity.
- The importance of partnerships and value chain collaboration — among companies, customers, and society — to enable large-scale circular transformation.
Digital Product Passport – A Catalyst for Transparency and Change
Opening the discussion, Frank Shou from Apple emphasized that the Digital Product Passport (DPP) — a concept pioneered in the European Union — is now drawing global attention as a key enabler for sustainable production and consumption.
“The DPP is not merely a technological framework,” Shou explained, “it represents a new mindset about product responsibility and life-cycle transparency.”
A Digital Product Passport is essentially a digital record attached to each product, containing detailed information about its composition, origin, carbon footprint, and recyclability. It empowers stakeholders — from regulators to consumers — to make informed decisions and to keep materials in circulation for longer.
According to Shou, Apple views DPP as part of a broader movement toward information transparency and harmonizationacross markets. However, challenges remain: differing languages, local regulations, and varying technological readiness across regions make standardization complex.
“While the concept is still in its early stage,” Shou continued, “we see great potential for cross-border adoption. For example, integrating a simple QR code could replace paper labeling, reduce waste, and provide richer information for users.”
This aligns with Apple’s ongoing strategy to minimize packaging materials and enhance user accessibility through digital tools — demonstrating how innovation and sustainability can reinforce each other.
Dell’s Vision: QR Codes, Open Data, and the User as a Circular Partner
Representing Dell Technologies, Vivian Tai brought a practical manufacturing perspective, focusing on digital labeling and information accessibility.
“At Dell, we see the QR code as a powerful tool to advance transparency and sustainability,” she said. “It can replace printed labels and carry multiple layers of information — from materials and energy use to recycling guidelines.”
Dell has already begun experimenting with digital product labels in several Asian markets, where consumers can scan a QR code to access the complete life cycle of their device: where it was made, how it can be repaired, and how to return it for responsible recycling.
This approach not only reduces paper waste, but also turns consumers into active participants in the circular economy. Tai added: “Circularity isn’t just a manufacturer’s responsibility — it’s a shared journey. When customers understand their product’s footprint and end-of-life options, they naturally become part of the solution.”
For Dell, this user-centered transparency strengthens brand trust and closes the gap between corporate sustainability strategy and everyday consumer behavior.
Acer’s Supply Chain Strategy: Measuring, Scoring, and Engaging Suppliers
Grace Liu, Corporate Sustainability Officer at Acer, shifted the conversation toward the supply chain dimension — a crucial yet often overlooked component of the circular economy.
Acer has established a comprehensive supplier sustainability evaluation system that integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics into procurement and partnership decisions.
“Every year,” Liu explained, “we assess and score our suppliers on environmental performance, labor practices, and governance. We also provide capacity-building programs to help them improve and innovate.”
Beyond compliance, Acer operates a benchmarking platform that compares sustainability performance across its supply base. This allows the company to identify leaders and laggards, set collaborative improvement targets, and reward best practices.
“Transparency not only ensures regulatory compliance,” Liu noted, “but also builds mutual trust and creates shared value across the supply chain.”
By embedding sustainability into supplier management, Acer is helping transform what used to be a transactional relationship into a collaborative ecosystem — one that can adapt to new global requirements like the DPP.
Compal’s Material Innovation: Designing for Reuse and Recyclability
From the perspective of original design manufacturers (ODMs), Steve Huang of Compal Electronics highlighted the technical and material challenges in implementing circular design.
“As an ODM, our focus is on material innovation and system integration,” Huang said. “We’re developing recyclable and low-impact materials that can meet durability requirements while reducing virgin resource use.”
Compal has set up specialized testing laboratories to assess each material unit for performance, safety, and compatibility. These data-driven assessments feed into a broader standardization framework for circular design.
“Every material component must be traceable and recoverable,” Huang explained. “Only by integrating these principles at the design stage can we ensure that circularity is achievable at scale.”
He also emphasized that collaboration between OEMs and ODMs is vital: since most global brands rely on ODMs for manufacturing, their early engagement in sustainability design can amplify impact across industries.
Transparency as the Foundation of Circular Governance
Throughout the discussion, one theme repeatedly surfaced: information transparency is the foundation upon which the circular economy must be built.
Grace Liu pointed to emerging international regulations such as the EU Battery Regulation and Digital Labeling Schemes, which require each product to have a unique identifier and to disclose environmental data, including carbon footprint and recyclability rates.
“These policies are not just compliance requirements,” she said. “They’re shaping a new norm of openness that enables traceability, accountability, and trust.”
By aligning with these global frameworks, Asian manufacturers can not only stay compliant but also position themselves as leaders in sustainable innovation — turning regulatory pressure into competitive advantage.
Partnerships: The Human Side of Circular Transformation
Moderator Dr. Chun-Hsu Lin invited the panel to reflect on a broader question: “What kind of partnerships are you building — with customers, suppliers, or communities — to make circular economy principles a reality?”
The responses revealed diverse yet complementary approaches:
- Apple focuses on upstream collaboration, working closely with component suppliers to design products for disassembly and reuse.
- Dell empowers customers through digital access to product information, enabling responsible behavior and closed-loop recycling.
- Acer partners with suppliers and NGOs to strengthen capacity and social impact in the value chain.
- Compal co-develops circular material standards with its OEM clients, ensuring technical feasibility and consistency.
Each approach underscores a common belief: no company can achieve circularity alone. It requires a web of partnerships — across industries, geographies, and disciplines — bound together by shared data and shared purpose.
From Europe to Asia: Localization and Innovation
While the Digital Product Passport originates from the European Union, the panelists agreed that Asia is rapidly becoming a fertile ground for circular innovation.
The region’s technological capability, manufacturing scale, and policy momentum make it well-positioned to adapt and localize the DPP concept in ways that reflect regional realities.
“The key,” said Frank Shou, “is not just compliance but leadership. Asia has the talent, the technology, and the creativity to define how circularity looks in practice.”
Several Asian economies — including Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore — are already developing digital traceability platforms, recycling standards, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies inspired by European frameworks but tailored to local ecosystems.
This convergence of policy and practice could transform Asia Pacific into the engine room of the global circular transition.
Conclusion: From Awareness to Action
The APCER & Hotspot 2025 Roundtable concluded with both optimism and realism. The Digital Product Passportremains a work in progress, but the conversation itself marked a significant step forward in shaping a shared vision for circularity in the Asia Pacific region.
Moderator Dr. Chun-Hsu Lin wrapped up with a thought-provoking message: “Circular economy is not just an industrial model — it’s an ethical commitment between humanity, technology, and the planet. Each company must redefine its role within the global value chain to contribute to a truly sustainable future.”
As the discussion made clear, the journey from linear to circular requires courage, collaboration, and transparency. Initiatives like DPP, digital labeling, and supplier engagement are not isolated projects; they form the backbone of a new economic paradigm.
With pioneers like Apple, Dell, Acer, and Compal leading by example, the Asia Pacific region is well on its way to becoming not just a participant, but a trailblazer of the global circular economy.
Final Reflection
The APCER & Hotspot 2025 Roundtable was more than a policy forum — it was a snapshot of a historic transition in motion. As the boundaries between technology, sustainability, and governance blur, the real measure of success will be how effectively these companies — and the region at large — can turn ideas into systemic change.
In an age defined by digital transformation and ecological urgency, the digital product passport stands as both a symbol and a strategy — a blueprint for how transparency, data, and collaboration can breathe new life into the economy of tomorrow.
22/10/2025 Đô Nguyễn
Tech Times