Green packaging is crucial for food businesses to meet the sustainable development standards of customers and the market, a seminar heard in HCM City.

The seminar, titled “Food packaging - Quality Control and Trend catching,” was organised by the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) and Eurofins Sắc Ký Hải Đăng Co Ltd on May 7, as part of a series of seminars and conferences focusing on the food and agriculture sector organised at the ongoing 2024 HCM City International Exhibition of Food and Beverages.

It sought to discuss quality control in food packaging, particularly with respect to food safety and sustainability.

Hồ Thị Quyên, deputy director of ITPC, said green growth is the current approach to economic development.

Green packaging is also becoming a priority for Government and other stakeholders, and a major link in the circular economy, she said.

The Draft National Action Plan for Circular Economy has identified packaging as one of the priority areas for the circular economy.

“Through this seminar, the HCM City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre aims to provide opportunities for businesses in the food and packaging industry to access the latest knowledge on quality control and green trends.

“Additionally, it offers a platform for enterprises to share experiences and learn about sustainable practices in packaging production."

Representatives from Eurofins Sắc Ký Hải Đăng spoke about green packaging and sustainable materials for food and the impacts of green consumer trends on packaging.

They provided information about regulations on labelling of nutritional components in food spelled out in Circular 29/2023/TT-BYT from the Ministry of Health.

They covered key Vietnamese laws related to product labelling and regulations for labelling in the US and Europe.

Phạm Thị Mỹ Duyên of Minh Phát Manufacturing and Service Co Ltd said amid the green economic trend, businesses seek to switch to using recycled packaging and packaging made from natural materials that are safe for food and environmentally friendly.

However, the transition from plastic to green packaging remains a challenge, she admitted.

This involves changing the habits of many consumers, she said.

Regulations on single-use plastic packaging by international and domestic organisations are not yet stringent, she said.

Meanwhile, the packaging industry is highly competitive, and so businesses must find ways to create uniqueness and distinctive values to attract customers, she said.

The prices of raw materials and the cost of obtaining international certification for green and eco-friendly packaging are higher than for plastic packaging.

This makes many businesses hesitant to switch to environment-friendly packaging. — VNS