(Source Credits: Plastics For Change)
When Crispian Lao, an extraordinary environmental leader and sustainability advocate passed away, we lost a visionary who understood how deep, structural change is born. In boardrooms and policy forums, across waste collection sites and international conferences, Crispian was a constant force quietly guiding Southeast Asia and especially the Philippines toward a more inclusive, traceable, and human-centered circular economy.
A Quiet Leader with a Bold Blueprint
Crispian led and shaped the conversations. Whether helping draft the Philippines Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework or bridging the gap between government and industry, Crispian’s work focused on one goal: creating systems that outlast any single initiative.
He understood what few did, that the real transformation comes from aligning policy, industry, and informal ecosystems. That we can’t build a future of responsible consumption unless we recognize every player who makes recycling possible, especially the ones at the margins.
For businesses, he created pathways to integrate circularity not just as a CSR checkbox, but as a core operational strategy, one that rewards accountability, drives innovation, and opens the door to ethical sourcing at scale.
Scaling Impact Across Borders
Crispian believed in cooperation over competition. He worked relentlessly across Southeast Asia to create regionally aligned responses to plastic waste recognizing that no nation could tackle this alone. Through his involvement in the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations and regional alliances, he pushed for real frameworks that allowed traceable, recycled materials to flow responsibly across borders.
For those of us working in inclusive supply chains where every bottle collected has a human story behind it, Crispian’s legacy serves as a reminder that building fair systems isn’t just morally right. It’s economically smart, scalable, and the only way to ensure long-term resilience in the recycling industry.
I Remember the Way He Showed Up
I had the chance to work with Crispian back in 2015 on a multi-country research project with Ocean Conservancy. We were mapping high-impact business models to reduce ocean plastic leakage in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
In every meeting, Crispian brought more than just expertise, he brought humility, patience, and a laser-sharp focus on what mattered: outcomes. He had a way of balancing industry insights with empathy. He could speak the language of government officials and waste collectors with equal clarity. And that, I think, was his superpower.
Carrying the Vision Forward
Crispian’s life and work leave us with memories and clear a roadmap towards building an inclusive supply chain network.
As we at Plastics For Change continue to build supply chains that center on dignity, traceability, and environmental integrity, we’re reminded that we’re walking a path Crispian helped clear.
The world needs more Crispian Laos. Until then, it’s on all of us to ensure his vision doesn’t fade but scales.
Written By Andrew Almack, Founder & CEO, Plastics For Change