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The environmental laws in Thailand is a mixture of different parts of the law with scattered regulatory initiatives. The laws covering air quality such as issues with dust in Thailand and the PM2.5 smog issues. Likewise plastic pollution and illegal waste imports and bio -energy are all to be covered below.
With Thailand’s environmental policy landscape changing from scattered regulatory initiatives to a more coherent and ambitious programme of reform across air quality, waste management, plastics and bio-energy. Below I set out the policy changes, practical implications for your practice areas such as legal recoveries as well as fraud. Likewise look at our articles under insights. Below are the Environmental Regulation in Thailand
Clean Air: The are a number of Clean Air Bill drafts which have been prepared for parliamentary consideration. The government is trying to create an integrated framework for monitoring dust and air quality. The Clean Air Bill had it first readings in 2024 and has already gone through the parliamentary review in 2025. This is part of the Environmental Regulation in Thailand.
Plastics & packaging: Thailand for a number of years has tried to reduce single use plastics. We all know that at one time the local 711 store did not give you a plastic bag. You had to bring your own cloth bag for the 711 store. Likewise Thailand has tried to promote recycling targets which they had set. By doing this they have reduced plastics from the landfills. We know see with EU funding and the regional SWITCH-Asia analysis of plastic policies and the forthcoming Sustainable Packaging Management Act.
Waste imports & e-waste: The Thai government has on the 1st January 2025 banned the importing of plastic waste. This to stop the burning of plastics downstream. Likewise enforcement has been increased. There is the draft laws on the Industrial Waste Management Act which will bring a broaden producer responsibility. This too is part of the Environmental Regulation in Thailand.
Bio-energy & Renewables: Much like the EU Thailand does have a NEP or National Energy Plan. They are investigating the use of bio-fuels as well as bio fuel blending. There is also a greater push for the use of biomass and bio-energy working on the circular economy.
Taken together, regulators are attempting to move Thailand toward more sustainable material and energy flows while strengthening public-health protections for air and a crackdown on illegal or harmful imports.
Several proximate drivers explain the acceleration of environmental regula in Thailand:
Public health and political pressure this from the repeated smog episodes (PM2.5) in Bangkok and northern provinces. We know in the North of Thailand they burn the sugar cane fields annually. This creates health issues and has made clean air a high-visibility issue. Policymakers cannot ignore repeated school closures, hospital admissions, and public concern with regards to the PM2.5 smog
High-profile enforcement failures that has made televisions many times. The illicit plastic as well as the e-waste shipments. These are from illegal recycling yards. This has pushed for more stricter border controls and import bans that people have worked around.
Below I break the consequences down across your three priority practice areas with concrete risk and opportunity points.
Why environmental regulation creates recovery opportunities
New compliance obligations create fault lines. When companies do not comply with the import bans with regards to plastic waste or WEEE/EPR obligations. Likewise when they do not comply with Clean Air permit conditions. This is where enforcement often coming with civil or criminal liability. These create recoverable claims, asset preservation opportunities and enhanced leverage in dispute resolution.
Supply-chain diversion and fraud: With the bans on imports and higher landfill standards. These increase incentives for the falsification of documents. Most times the e-waste enters Thailand as mis-labelling of consignments and diversion to illicit operators.
Actionable steps for recovery practitioners
A few years ago Bangkok was hit with high PM2.5. The government thought that this was because of building in Bangkok. The build environmental compliance checks into due diligence and forensic workflows
Likewise with expand cooperation channels with customs as well as the Pollution Control Department (PCD) and the Department of Industrial Works (DIW).
The use of legal remedies as well as asset-freezing in parallel with regulatory complaints where evidence shows ongoing illegal importation or mis-processing.
The mass claims which are linked to air-pollution exposures. Likewise mismanaged landfill operations. These may require different litigation tactics such as public nuisance, tort law or consumer protection laws. These are all part of the Environmental Regulation in Thailand.
Why environmental rules affect digital and e-commerce firms
Packaging, disclosure and green claims: With the Sustainable Packaging legislation online firms will be required to change product packaging, as well as their labeling, and online marketing statements. Many of these online firms do what is called Greenwashing. This occurs when they tell you that the packaging is biodegradable or that the packaging is recyclable. Likewise many claim that they use recycled cardboard. Likewise we see many sellers in Thailand now use air filled plastic packaging instead of Styrofoam. This too is part of Environmental Regulation in Thailand.
Data & traceability: Regulators may expect traceability systems. This however would be difficult. Likewise they would have to list or standardize the packaging as well as material composition reporting.
Opportunities
What you will need to compliance-as-a-service. Standardized packaging design as well as compliance and producer registration. This with automated green-claim audits. SWITCH-Asia and other policy documents point to the need for private-sector solutions for traceability and recycling schemes. Much like third-party certifications to avoid green-washing claims.
Why the hospitality sector is exposed
Waste and single-use plastics: In Asia where people drink loads of bottled water. Hotels are a big source of plastic. This can be from packaging or water bottles.The encouragement for recycling water bottles have become a major issue. Many of these types of plastics can be recycled. This depends on the type of plastic being used. Water bottles are made from PET plastics.These are recyclable. HDPE which is mainly things such as milk bottles or shampoo bottles but these don’t really get recycled. The Sustainable Packaging Act and municipal waste-management bylaws will require operational changes.
Air quality obligations: In Northern Thailand each year you have the sugar cane burning. This creates a haze and sends the PM2.5 sky high.Hotels will not like this as they have to inform their guests about the issues.Hence the government limits open burning as well as lowering the biomass boiler emissions. The Clean Air Bill will have stronger penalties for this.
Supply-chain and procurement: Food service in Thailand as well as hotels. Their in-room amenities as well as procurement chains must minimise single-use plastics as well as show compliance or be subject to fines or reputational harm.
Watch-list (near-term regulatory events & documents)
Sustainable Packaging Management Act — What we can expect is the drafting and stakeholder consultations through late-2025. This is the main push for packaging EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and recycling targets.
Plastic waste import ban (effective 1 Jan 2025) — This banned is already in force and being enforced. There is ongoing monitoring of enforcement actions and illegal import seizures remains important for recovery work.
Clean Air Bill parliamentary process — There are multiple drafts which have been consolidated. Likewise the readings and committee reports in 2025 set the timeline and oath for source control, monitoring and enforcement.
Industrial Waste Management Act developments There are also drafts on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for electronics and industrial waste producer duties are evolving. Thai manufacturers and importers will need to prepare compliance chains.
Bio-energy & NEP implementation — The Department of Alternative Energy and Efficiency (DEDE) mandates which looks at specific targets such as biofuel blending. This creates opportunities for feed stock aggregation and waste-to-energy projects. This is important for investors and hospitality energy planning.
Enforcement & customs actions on illegal imports — We can now watch public lists of seizures as well as for prosecutions and port enforcement changes. These indicate the regulators’ priorities and reveal potential subjects for fraud. Recent large seizures are a clear indicator of issues.
5. Implementation challenges & likely market effects
Regulatory complexity and fragmentation: With the law being fragmented you have multiple draft bills. So you have to track the PCD, DIW, Ministry of Commerce, Customs and local municipalities simultaneously. This will increase compliance costs and creates room for inconsistency in enforcement as well as market consolidation. These are all part of the Environmental Regulation in Thailand.
Market consolidation: The smaller recyclers in Thailand as well as small-scale importers. They will struggle with stricter standards with regards to traceability, as well as GACP-style certification for feed stocks. In the end you will create market consolidation as the fees and compliance will be to expense for the small players.
Informal & illegal markets: With the more tighter bans in Thailand. This can push some flows underground. This is normally dues to document falsification as well as the mis-declaration. That raises the need for customs anti-fraud capabilities and cross-border cooperation.
Innovation & investment: The regulatory pressure it is hoped will encourage larger corporate players to investment in alternatives. These can be the use of bio-plastics, or compostables and refill systems. Likewise better waste-to-energy projects. This is an overview of Environmental Regulation in Thailand.
The information contained in our website is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advices. For further information, please contact us.