Approaching Circular Economy in the Plastic Recycling in Vietnam

Recently, urbanization in Vietnam has been increasing, thus the dramatic increase in consumption and demand for plastics in consumer packaging, construction, household goods, and automotive industries.

by HUYNH Trung Hai

Abstract

Recently, urbanization in Vietnam has been increasing, thus the dramatic increase in consumption and demand for plastics in consumer packaging, construction, household goods, and automotive industries. In 2019, the plastic industry contributed about US$17.5 billion to Vietnam’s economy, equivalent to 6.7% of the country’s GDP. To meet the material demand for plastic production, Vietnam has to import around 80% plastic resin and recycled plastic, while 75% of the domestic material value of the key plastics resins (in 2019) is discarded rather than recycled because of the limitation in recycling capacities and the mismanagement system in waste segregation and collection. To address the situation and towards sustainable development, the government has been deploying long-term action plans, moving from creating awareness of the plastic waste problem to defining specific solutions. In the context of Vietnam shifting from a linear economy toward a circular economy, used plastics have to be defined as valuable material resources to be recycled rather than as waste to be discarded. The 2020 Law of Environmental Protection of Vietnam introduces the concept of the circular economy by fostering extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy, highlighting the responsibility of producers and importers to recycle products and packaging. The national development plan for a circular economy was approved in Decision 687 signed by Deputy Priminister, setting goal of reuse, recycling, and treatment of 85% of plastic waste until 2025. It will result in a replacement of a proportion of imported materials with a domestic supply of recycled plastics. This presentation provides an overview of approaching the circular economy in plastic recycling in Vietnam in terms of opportunities and challenges.

Keywords: circular economy, plastic recycling, Vietnam

published: Korea Society of Waste Management, 11|2022
Keywords: Plastics, Viet Nam

Professor Huynh Trung Hai
Hanoi University of Science and Technology