Vietnam's Plastic Production: Environmental Impact And Solutions

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue in Vietnam, which is one of the top five plastic polluters of the world's oceans. The country's rapid economic growth, urbanization, and changing lifestyles have led to a plastic pollution crisis, with single-use plastic items contributing significantly to the problem. Vietnam's plastic industry produced 8.89 million tonnes of products in 2019, but the mismanagement of plastic waste has resulted in environmental and economic consequences. Vietnam is taking steps to address this issue, with the government setting ambitious national plastics waste management goals and implementing projects to reduce plastic use and improve waste management.

Vietnam's plastic waste management goals

Vietnam's plastic industry produced 8.89 million tonnes of products in 2019, contributing an estimated US$17.5 billion to the national economy, or 6.7% of GDP. However, Vietnam is facing a plastic pollution crisis, with an estimated 3.1 million metric tons of plastic waste discharged on land annually. The country is ranked fourth globally for plastic leakages into marine environments and is one of the top ten countries in the world for plastic pollution.

Recognising the severity of the issue, the Vietnamese government has implemented several measures to reduce plastic pollution and improve waste management. The National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030 aims to cut marine plastic litter by 50% by 2025 and by 75% by 2030. This includes impending bans on producing and importing plastic bags for domestic use by 2026 and most single-use plastic products by 2031. The Law on Environmental Protection 2020 mandates waste sorting at the source from January 2025, with a roadmap to phase out single-use plastics by 2030.

To address the plastic pollution crisis, Vietnam has also focused on reducing plastic consumption and improving waste management practices. Projects have been implemented in several cities, with support from organisations like the UNDP and the Government of Norway, to promote behaviour change and reduce plastic use. These initiatives have contributed to decreased plastic consumption in the targeted areas. Additionally, Vietnam is addressing structural challenges in the plastics recycling market, such as gaps in domestic recycling capacities and the lack of sustained local demand for recycled plastics.

Overall, Vietnam is actively working towards its ambitious national plastic waste management goals by implementing policies, promoting behaviour change, and addressing structural issues in the recycling market. These efforts aim to combat the economic, environmental, and social consequences of mismanaged plastic waste.

Plastic's contribution to the Vietnamese economy

Plastic is one of the most widely used materials in the world, with its production increasing from 2 million tons in the 1950s to about 430 million tons in 2019. In Vietnam, plastics are used in a wide range of industries, including packaging, consumer goods, electronics, automotives, aviation, textiles, and agriculture. The plastic industry in Vietnam is highly dependent on the import of raw materials, which have increased in quantity and value over the years. In 2019, Vietnam’s plastics industry produced 8.89 million tonnes of products, contributing an estimated US$17.5 billion to the national economy, or 6.7% of GDP.

However, Vietnam is facing a plastic pollution crisis due to rapid economic growth, urbanization, and changing lifestyles. An estimated 3.1 million metric tons of plastic waste is discharged on land in Vietnam each year, with at least 10% leaking into waterways. Vietnam is one of the top plastic polluters of the world's oceans, with plastic waste accounting for 94% of waste by item and 71% by weight in river and coastal sites. The consumption of single-use plastics is a significant problem in Vietnam, with approximately 75% of solid waste, including plastics, being mismanaged or improperly disposed of.

Recognizing the environmental and economic consequences of plastic waste, the Vietnamese government has set ambitious national plastic waste management goals. The National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030 aims to cut marine plastic litter by 50% by 2025 and 75% by 2030. Measures include impending bans on producing and importing plastic bags for domestic use by 2026 and most single-use plastic products by 2031. The World Bank has proposed a policy roadmap to reduce the usage of common single-use plastic items, such as non-degradable plastic bags, expanded polystyrene food containers, and plastic straws.

To address plastic waste management, Vietnam has implemented initiatives at the community level, with support from organizations like the UNDP and the Government of Norway. These projects focus on behavior change, waste reduction, and improving waste management practices and policies. Vietnam is also working to improve its recycling capabilities, although it currently faces structural challenges such as a lack of sustained local demand for recycled plastics and gaps in domestic recycling capacities.

Vietnam's plastic pollution crisis

Vietnam is facing a plastic pollution crisis. The country is one of the top five plastic polluters globally, with an estimated 3.1 million metric tons of plastic waste discharged onto land each year. At least 10% of this waste leaks into waterways, with plastic waste constituting 94% of waste by the total number of items and 71% by weight found in river and coastal sites.

The plastic pollution crisis in Vietnam is driven by several factors. Firstly, rapid economic growth, urbanization, and changing lifestyles have increased plastic consumption. Plastic is widely used in various industries, including packaging, consumer goods, electronics, automotives, and agriculture. The per capita plastic consumption in Vietnam has surged from 3.8 kg per person in 1990 to 41.3 kg in 2018, and each household consumes approximately 35 plastic bags per week. The rise of online food delivery services has also contributed to the increase in plastic waste.

Secondly, Vietnam's plastic waste management systems are inadequate, with approximately 75% of solid waste, including plastics, being mismanaged or improperly disposed of. Only about 27% to 30% of plastic waste is recycled, while the rest ends up in landfills, dumpsites, or oceans. The country lacks a waste management system that prioritizes recycling, and there is a lack of sustained local demand for recycled plastics. Structural challenges, such as gaps in domestic recycling capacities and the reliance on higher-quality scrap imports, further hinder effective plastic waste management.

The Vietnamese government has recognized the severity of the plastic pollution crisis and is taking steps to address it. The government has set ambitious national plastic waste management goals and developed a National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030. This plan includes targets to cut marine plastic litter by 50% by 2025 and 75% by 2030. To achieve these targets, measures such as banning the production and import of plastic bags for domestic use by 2026 and most single-use plastic products by 2031 are being implemented. The government is also working on improving waste management policies, enforcing regulations, and promoting behavior change to reduce plastic use and improve waste sorting and segregation for recycling.

Community projects supported by organizations like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by partnerships with entities like the Government of Norway have also contributed to reducing plastic use and improving waste management in several cities. These projects have involved various stakeholders, including households, schools, government departments, unions, and the private sector, to create a coordinated whole-of-society approach.

Vietnam's recycling practices

Vietnam's rapid economic growth, urbanization, and changing lifestyles have led to a country-wide plastic pollution crisis. In 2019, Vietnam's plastics industry produced 8.89 million tonnes of products, with an estimated contribution of US$17.5 billion to the national economy, representing 6.7% of its GDP. However, Vietnam is one of the top five plastic polluters of the world's oceans, with an estimated 3.1 million metric tons of plastic waste discharged on land annually.

The Vietnamese government has acknowledged the economic and environmental consequences of plastic waste and has set ambitious national plastic waste management goals. The National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030 targets a 50% reduction in marine plastic litter by 2025 and a 75% reduction by 2030. To achieve these goals, Vietnam plans to ban the production and importation of plastic bags for domestic use by 2026 and most single-use plastic products by 2031.

The recycling of plastic waste in Vietnam typically occurs in an informal context, often in rural settlements known as "craft villages." For example, in 2018, the Vietnam Cleaner Production Centre (VNCPC) conducted a survey on two plastic recycling craft villages: Phan Boi village and Minh Khai Village. While the majority of households in Minh Khai village process granulated plastic from waste scrap, most households in Phan Boi village focus on waste plastic sorting, shredding, washing, and selling for further granulation processes.

Despite these efforts, several structural challenges hinder effective plastic recycling in Vietnam. These include a lack of sustained local demand for recycled plastics, gaps in domestic recycling capacities, and a waste management system that prioritizes collection and disposal over recycling. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified these challenges, with a decline in supply to the recycling industry and reduced demand for recycled products.

To address these issues, Vietnam has introduced an "extended producer responsibility" (EPR) policy under its Environment Protection Law. This policy mandates that producers and importers take responsibility for recycling a certain proportion of the products and packaging they manufacture or import into Vietnam or contribute financially to the Vietnam Environment Protection (VEP) Fund. Companies are required to register their recycling plans and report annually on their previous year's recycling results.

Vietnam's roadmap to phase out single-use plastic

Vietnam's rapid economic growth, urbanization, and changing lifestyles have led to a country-wide plastic pollution crisis. The country is one of the top five plastic polluters of the world's oceans, with an estimated 3.1 million metric tons of plastic waste discharged on land annually. Recognizing that plastics pollution is a serious emerging issue, Vietnam has set ambitious national plastics waste management goals to combat the economic and environmental consequences of such waste nationally.

The National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030, targets a 50% cut in marine plastic litter by 2025, and a 75% cut by 2030. Some measures already put in place include an impending ban on the production and import of plastic bags for domestic use by 2026, and most single-use plastic products by 2031.

To effectively reduce plastic pollution, the World Bank proposes a roadmap to reduce the usage of the most common single-use plastic (SUP) items. The top three items are non-degradable plastic bags, expanded polystyrene (EPS) food containers, and plastic straws. Other items include those used in food takeaway, catering, and tourism businesses. The roadmap suggests a progressive phase-out of these items, accompanied by the promotion of viable alternatives, and an improved solid waste management system.

To avoid disruptive economic impacts, the roadmap recommends a phased approach, beginning with restrictions and fees, and then gradually progressing toward total bans. It also proposes a coordination mechanism among relevant stakeholders, which is key to effective policy intervention implementation.

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