Panasonic Launches Air Conditioner Recycling Pilots in Vietnam and the Philippines
VIETNAM: Panasonic Corporation has initiated pilot projects in Vietnam and the Philippines to collect used air conditioners and explore opportunities for recycling and refurbishment. Scheduled to run from October 2026 to March 2027, the initiatives aim to develop collection systems through retail networks and assess the feasibility of recovering materials for reuse in Panasonic products.
The company plans to collect 500–1,000 used air conditioners in each country, including units manufactured by other brands. The projects will focus on customers purchasing Panasonic products through participating retailers and evaluate the operational and commercial viability of used equipment collection. The initiatives form part of Japan’s Ministry of the Environment’s International Metal Resource Circulation Promotion Project.
In Vietnam, Panasonic Vietnam has partnered with home appliance retailer Cao Phong to launch a collection programme on October 8, 2026. Customers replacing their air conditioners can register to sell their used units through the scheme. Panasonic will assess options for dismantling the collected equipment, separating materials and recovering resources for use in products manufactured locally. The initiative follows the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements for electrical and electronic products in Vietnam in January 2025.
Source: Panasonic
