## Plastic Consumption in Vietnam: The Need for Sustainable Packaging Solutions
At the seminar “Green Packaging Development Trends: Legal and Practical Aspects” held in Binh Duong, experts discussed the growing global consumption of plastic and Vietnam’s role in this context. Despite existing control policies, domestic plastic consumption continues to rise, emphasizing the urgency for the packaging industry to reduce plastic waste and embrace sustainable practices.
### PREDICTED PLASTIC CONSUMPTION TO REACH OVER 11 MILLION TONS BY 2025
Mr. Nguyen Thi from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shared concerning statistics. Despite global efforts to reduce plastic use, consumption rates continue to climb. The current increase outpaces population growth, indicating humanity’s overreliance on plastic.
OECD data reveals a stark contrast between plastic production in 1950 (2 million tons) and 2019 (368 million tons). Without effective interventions, projections estimate a staggering 736 million tons by 2040.
Vietnam reflects this global trend, with plastic consumption rising from 0.2 million tons in 1990 to over 9 million tons in 2022. Per capita consumption has also surged from 3.8 kg/year in 1990 to 81 kg/year in 2019.
By 2025, consumption is predicted to reach 11.65 million tons, and it could climb to 16.3 million tons annually by 2029. Mr. Thi emphasized the need for aggressive solutions to reduce plastic waste, promote recycling, and embrace a circular economy to lessen dependence on virgin plastic.
Mr. Bui Quang Thinh, a member of the Science and Technology Committee of the Vietnam Packaging Association (Vinpas), added that Vietnam has approximately 14,000 packaging businesses. He suggested that these enterprises could enhance environmental sustainability by increasing the use of renewable resources, minimizing waste, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and producing reusable or recyclable products.
### BUSINESSES ACCELERATE THEIR JOURNEY TOWARDS WASTE REDUCTION
Ms. Chu Thi Van Anh, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Beverage Association (VBA), highlighted the crucial role of the packaging industry in protecting, transporting, and distributing goods efficiently.
Following global trends, Vietnam’s packaging industry is undergoing a significant transformation towards green, sustainable production. This shift not only protects the environment but also offers substantial benefits to businesses and communities.
The packaging industry is witnessing a qualitative and quantitative evolution, impacting consumer habits in the long term. Enterprises in the FMCG sector and packaging suppliers have swiftly adapted to new trends, adjusting their business strategies to meet consumers’ evolving demands.
For instance, Nestlé aims to reduce emissions by 20% by 2025 and achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging, cutting virgin plastic use by a third. By 2050, they plan to eliminate plastic emissions entirely.
Coca-Cola has set ambitious targets, aiming for 35-40% recycled material in their primary packaging (plastic, glass, and aluminum). They aim to increase global recycled plastic use to 30-35% by 2035 and ensure the collection of 70-75% of the equivalent bottles and cans they sell annually by the same year.
Similarly, packaging manufacturers like Alpla strive to reduce CO2e emissions by 7% per ton of produced plastic by 2030, while Tetra Pak’s Binh Duong factory achieved LEED Gold certification in 2020 for its sustainable practices, saving 2 million liters of water annually, recycling 90% of waste, and reducing 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions.
Tetra Pak Vietnam’s CEO, Ms. Nguyen Thanh Giang, shared their ambitious goal of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from their factory operations by 2030.
### PROPAK VIETNAM 2025: A HUB FOR SUSTAINABLE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS
In line with these developments, the 18th International Exhibition on Processing, Packaging, and Packaging Technology – ProPak Vietnam 2025, and DRINKTECH Vietnam 2025 will take place from March 18-20, 2025, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC, Ho Chi Minh City). Organized by Informa Markets Vietnam, the event will gather over 340 businesses from 26 countries and territories.
The exhibition will showcase cutting-edge products and technologies for food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and packaging industries, including processing, printing, labeling, laboratory operations, cold chain logistics, and more. It aims to be a platform for businesses to discover innovative packaging materials, technologies, and ideas from around the world, fostering sustainable development in the industry.
“Foreign Business Delegations to Seek Partners in Vietnam’s Textile Industry”
The Ministry of Industry and Trade has revealed that numerous business delegations from Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and other countries are confirmed to attend VIATT 2025 in search of potential business partners.
“The Tech Start-up, Meey Group, Wins the 2024 Award for “Leading Brand in Proptech”
At the prestigious Real Estate Brand Leadership Awards 2024-2025 and the 5th Annual Spring Real Estate Forum, held on February 19, 2025, in Hanoi, Meey Land Joint Stock Group (Meey Group) was honored to receive the “Top One Leading Proptech Brand of the Year 2024” award.
Vietnam-Canada: Strengthening Ties, Building Opportunities.
Strengthening cooperation and building strong ties with Canadian provinces such as Saskatchewan is a key strategy to enhance bilateral relations between our nations. With a focus on diverse sectors, we aim to unlock the potential of our countries and bring about a positive change. Saskatchewan, with its vibrant economy and diverse sectors, offers a plethora of opportunities for cooperation and collaboration. By joining forces, we can create a mutually beneficial partnership that will not only strengthen our bond but also bring about a positive impact on our respective communities.
“Vietnam’s Offshore Wind Power Plans: A Post-2030 Vision”
Vietnam is set to embrace a greener future with a strategic focus on onshore and nearshore wind power. The country aims to significantly boost its renewable energy capacity by targeting an impressive 27,791 to 34,667 megawatts from these sources. This ambitious initiative underscores Vietnam’s commitment to sustainable practices and positions it as a leader in the global transition to clean energy.
Unlocking Digital Growth: HDBank’s Investor Conference for a Profit Target of Over VND 20,000 Billion
On February 18, 2025, HDBank (HOSE: HDB), Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank successfully hosted an Investor Conference to present its 2024 business results and 2025 outlook.
