Recycling starts with design.

For many years, waste was the end point of the production chain. But the circular economy is reversing that order. The issue is no longer about "waste disposal," but about "designing to avoid creating waste that is difficult to dispose of."

From that perspective, the environmental story is no longer at the end of the waste disposal chain, but is shifting back up the production chain.

Don't let waste become a burden.

As one of the nine founding members of the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance (PRO Vietnam) since 2019, TH true MILK quickly joined the collaborative network promoting the circular economy in the packaging sector.

Through PRO Vietnam, TH Group has collected more than 21,000 tons of packaging in the past three years since 2024.

According to a representative from TH true MILK, instead of waiting for waste to be generated and then processing it, the company chooses to start from the design stage. Research aimed at reducing plastic and paper in packaging and packaging components is continuously implemented. From plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, shrink wrap for bottle caps, packaging film to bottle labels, all are improved to reduce input materials while increasing recyclability.

The company also puts the recycling logo on its paper packaging to create recognition and promote sorting awareness among consumers.

"The recycling symbol on the packaging will serve as an invitation for consumers to participate and become part of the journey to reduce waste and protect the planet," a company representative said.

"Previously, businesses focused solely on producing high-quality products, but now we must consider the entire product lifecycle after consumption. Packaging doesn't end when the product is sold; it needs to be recovered and recycled into new resources," emphasized a representative from TH true MILK.

In reality, the environmental cost of a product is largely "locked in" right from the design stage. Therefore, the circular economy doesn't begin at the recycling plant. It starts with the company's own decisions about what materials to use, how to design the packaging, and how to plan for the product's next life cycle.

"We will prioritize purchasing from suppliers who offer packaging solutions that are better for the environment and better for recycling," said a representative from TH true MILK.

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It is known that all paper carton packaging for TH true MILK fresh milk products utilizes 6-layer aseptic packaging technology, supplied by leading global packaging technology partners such as Tetra Pak and SIG Combibloc, ensuring maximum preservation of natural nutrients without the need for preservatives, while also being optimally designed for separation technology at recycling plants.

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The waste problem cannot be solved by "green oases".

Despite numerous efforts to bring about change, representatives from TH true MILK acknowledge that the circular economy problem cannot be solved by a single effort.

According to the company, the biggest challenge in building a circular supply chain for multi-layer paper packaging in Vietnam lies not in recycling technology, but in the post-consumer collection and sorting system. "Vietnam lacks a post-consumer collection and sorting system that is sufficiently widespread, efficient, and economically viable to bring used paper boxes back into the recycling cycle," a representative from TH true MILK stated.

In other words, the challenge for the circular economy today is not just whether recycling is possible, but whether it is possible to collect the waste.

That's also why TH true MILK, along with eight other businesses, established PRO Vietnam in 2019. From nine initial members, the alliance has now expanded to 34 member businesses.

Photos from the 7th annual conference of PRO Vietnam.

At the 7th annual PRO Vietnam conference, Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc Trai, Chairman of PRO Vietnam, stated that the current 34 members are all leading enterprises from both the FDI sector and domestic businesses.

"Businesses can compete in the market, but they can also cooperate towards a common goal, aiming for a green future. That is the unique strength of PRO Vietnam," Mr. Trai said.

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A business can improve its packaging and reduce emissions in production on its own, but it is very difficult to build a nationwide collection and recycling system.

Therefore, the greatest value of PRO Vietnam lies not only in the volume of recycled packaging, but in creating a collaborative mechanism for businesses to jointly address a common problem that no one could effectively solve individually.

Ho Chi Minh City leaders also expect PRO Vietnam member businesses to continue to play a pioneering role, invest in new technologies, expand modern collection and recycling models, and integrate circular solutions more deeply into urban life.

Nhat Xuan

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tai-che-bat-dau-tu-thiet-design-post859882.html