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| The Norwegian Embassy published a report on the Scoping Study of a Refundable Deposit System Suitable for Vietnam. (Source: Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam) |
The announcement ceremony took place within the framework of the Plastic Talks 2025 series, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MARD) in coordination with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), through the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Vietnam, and the Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam, in response to World Environment Day 2025 with the message "Beat plastic pollution".
The event was attended by Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Solbakken; Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hung Thinh; Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam Patrick Haverman, along with delegates attending in person and online, including representatives of ministries, sectors, embassies, businesses, international organizations, development partners, associations, non -governmental organizations and domestic and international experts in the NPAP network.
The Deposit Return System (DRS) is a model whereby consumers return disposable beverage packaging after use to receive back their initial deposit.
The return points can be retail stores, hotels, restaurants, cafes or centralized return points. The initial deposit is small, but is seen as a financial incentive for consumers to return used beverage packaging, rather than throw it away.
As a result, DRS helps increase collection rates and significantly improve the quality of recycled plastic because packaging is collected separately and is less contaminated.
Notably, DRS is considered a practical support tool for implementing regulations on extended producer responsibility (EPR) as prescribed in the Law on Environmental Protection in 2000 and 2024. Specifically, instead of having to develop a separate collection process, beverage production and distribution enterprises can participate in the centralized collection system thanks to DRS, thereby increasing transparency, optimizing costs and ensuring the packaging recovery rate according to the law.
DRS has proven to be an effective solution, achieving very high collection rates for recycling of single-use beverage packaging.
Currently, more than 40 countries and territories in Europe, America, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania have adopted the DRS system. However, no Southeast Asian country has implemented this system yet.
According to the research report, DRS is completely feasible in Vietnam.
However, Vietnam needs a separate DRS system suitable to its socio -economic conditions, including the specific characteristics of the beverage market and domestic solid waste management infrastructure.
Therefore, the research report proposed detailed technical parameters for the DRS system suitable for Vietnam, and provided necessary preparation steps to ensure practical effectiveness when applying this model.
If implemented effectively, DRS is expected to divert approximately 77,000 tonnes of packaging waste from landfills each year, cutting 265,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, while creating approximately 6,400 formal jobs and 9,600 informal sector employment opportunities.
The study also found that the system design is consistent with EPR policy in Vietnam, contributing positively to the goal of reducing ocean plastic pollution and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
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| Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken speaks at the announcement ceremony. (Photo: KT) |
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Hilde Solbakken, said: “In Norway, the DRS system has helped us achieve one of the highest plastic bottle recycling rates in the world – over 90%. Across Europe, similar systems have demonstrated that smart design, combined with strong public and business engagement, can deliver real and positive environmental results.
I believe that with its increasingly strong commitment to sustainable development, Vietnam can benefit greatly from these proven models, thereby boosting recycling rates and effectively addressing the problem of plastic pollution."
The Norwegian Ambassador stressed that a DRS system is entirely feasible for Vietnam and would bring huge economic, social and environmental benefits. DRS has the potential to promote the development of a new recycling industry, create green jobs, and significantly reduce the amount of plastic bottles discharged into the environment or landfill.
Responding to this view, Mr. Nguyen Hung Thinh, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, affirmed that in Vietnam, with the economic and population growth rate, the amount of plastic waste generated is increasing, requiring comprehensive and breakthrough solutions. Promoting the closed plastic cycle, especially post-consumer plastic (PCR), not only helps reduce pollution but also brings great economic value.
"In that context, the DRS system offers a new, potential and effective approach. DRS has proven successful in many countries around the world in increasing the collection, classification and recycling rate of bottles and packaging - especially plastic materials," Mr. Nguyen Hung Thinh emphasized.
Source: https://baoquocte.vn/na-uy-bat-mi-them-mot-giai-phap-moi-cho-tai-che-nhua-tai-viet-nam-hieu-qua-tren-90-317937.html
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