A cooperation agreement on packaging collection and recycling was signed in HCM City on November 14 between FrieslandCampina Vietnam, Dong Tien Binh Duong Paper Co. Ltd. and Trường Thịnh Construction and Mechanical Trading Co. Ltd. — Photo courtesy of FrieslandCampina Vietnam
FrieslandCampina Vietnam, one of the world's largest dairy cooperatives, on Tuesday (November 14) in HCM City signed a cooperation agreement with Dong Tien Binh Duong Paper Co. Ltd. and Truong Thinh Construction and Mechanical Trading Co. Ltd. on packaging collection and recycling toward the successful implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation in Viet Nam.
The EPR scheme that requires plastic producers and importers to be responsible for the recycling of their packaging, which was first introduced in the Law on Environmental Protection in 2020, will take effect on January 1, 2024.
Under the cooperation agreement, a model of cooperation will be developed among three parties of manufacturer, collector and recycler to expand packaging collection and recycling capacity.
They will build a foundation for large-scale implementation with participation of many relevant partners across the country, will provide technical assistance in safety, health and environment, and help to improve the nutritional health of the partners’ workforce.
If used milk cartons and paper boxes are collected and processed properly, they will become a resource for the recycling industry, Duong Van Hong, director of Trường Thịnh Construction and Mechanical Trading Co. Ltd. said.
The company will maintain waste collection activities in southern provinces and cities through its existing network, and constantly expand new collection points in industrial parks, apartment buildings and other areas.
“We hope to contribute to improving the recycling rate of paper boxes in Viet Nam," he said.
Hoang Trung Son, general director of Dong Tien Binh Duong Paper Co. Ltd., said the company is ready with modern infrastructure and production lines to recycle all types of paper packaging, especially beverage paper packaging, to create recycled paper products meeting international standards.
“We can all join hands to solve the waste problem and create a new source of materials for recycling from the trash,” he said.
Richard Kiger, general director of FrieslandCampina Vietnam, said with nearly 30 years of operation in Viet Nam, the company is proud to be one of the pioneering companies in implementing sustainable development strategies in the country.
“For a green, clean and beautiful Viet Nam, we are very pleased to join Vietnamese businesses in pioneering in dealing with waste challenges based on the circular economy model," he said.
Since 2019, FrieslandCampina Vietnam and eight other leading companies in the fast moving consumer goods and packaging sectors, including include TH Group, Coca-Cola Viet Nam, La Vie, Nestle, Nutifood, Suntory PepsiCo Viet Nam, Tetra Pak and Universal Robina Corporation, joined together to form the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Organisation (PRO Vietnam).
PRO Vietnam now has more than 20 members across the country. — VNS