On March 11th, Victor Beaumont, our Waste and Circularity Project Manager, represented the Engineering & Consulting activity of Veolia at the 12th International Scientific Conference on Material Cycles and Waste Management (3RINCS 2026). During a special session, Victor presented our work on circular economy solutions in Southeast Asia, a region facing plastic pollution and waste infrastructure challenges.
His presentation, "Implementing Circularity: Enhancement of Proven Solutions through Digital Tools", detailed operational experience in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. It demonstrated how digital innovation optimizes waste management when integrated with established physical infrastructure.
Key Insights from the Presentation
Victor's presentation conceded that digital technology alone can’t solve complex waste management problems. Our work across Southeast Asia shows that digital tools function as accelerators, but only when applied to strong physical foundations.
Building on What Exists
Through our field studies and pilot projects in Cirebon (Indonesia), Manila (Philippines), and Tan An (Vietnam), we have found that successful circular economy transitions do not require completely rebuilding existing systems. Instead, they require:
Understanding what already exists: making current operations visible and measurable through data
Strengthening proven solutions: ensuring functional waste collection logistics, Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and proper disposal systems are in place
Creating the right regulatory environment: implementing financing mechanisms like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to make material recovery economically viable
A Phased Approach to Digital Transformation
Our methodology follows a systematic progression:
Digitization: converting analog data to digital information
Digitalization: improving existing processes
Digital transformation: redesigning systems for decision-making
Using our "Digital Maturity Assessment," we evaluated waste management systems across the region and found that most countries are currently between "Enabling" and "Integrating" maturity levels. This confirms what our field experience has shown: sustainable progress is built incrementally.
Results from Pilot Programs
Our pilots have demonstrated measurable outcomes:
Integration of the informal sector: digital tools connected informal waste collectors with households, creating traceable and formal material flows
Leakage identification: AI-based monitoring systems identified where materials leak from the system, creating clear starting points for improvement
Enabling accountability: data governance frameworks provided a consistent information layer for all participants, from government bodies to waste workers
The Path Forward: Data Governance and Continuous Improvement
Victor emphasized that implementing circularity requires more than technology, it demands a comprehensive Data Governance Framework that ensures all stakeholders work from the same reliable information. By establishing systems that are "known and measurable," we enable continuous improvement and collaborative resource management between the public and private sectors.