VECOM Attends the Seminar "Promoting Circular Economy in the Private Sector: Minimizing Single-Use Plastic Products in the Retail Industry"

VECOM Attends the Seminar "Promoting Circular Economy in the Private Sector: Minimizing Single-Use Plastic Products in the Retail Industry"

On the morning of July 24, 2026, in Hanoi, Mr. Doan Quoc Tam, Vice President of the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM), attended the seminar "Promoting Circular Economy in the Private Sector: Minimizing Single-Use Plastic Products in the Retail Industry". The event was organized by the Institute of Strategy, Agricultural Policy and Environment in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Vietnam.

The seminar was held against the backdrop of plastic pollution becoming one of the most critical environmental challenges globally. Annually, approximately 19 to 23 million tons of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems, polluting rivers, lakes, and oceans; concurrently, this degrades the climate change adaptation capacity of ecosystems, impacting livelihoods, production activities, and human well-being.

In Vietnam, reducing plastic waste and promoting the circular economy model have been outlined in various major policies and directives, such as the National Strategy for Integrated Solid Waste Management, Directive No. 33/CT-TTg on strengthening management, reuse, recycling, treatment, and reduction of plastic waste, the National Action Plan on Sustainable Production and Consumption for the 2021–2030 period, and the Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam.

The seminar focused on updating policies concerning the circular economy and plastic pollution reduction within the retail sector; sharing models to minimize single-use plastic items; and fostering connections among regulatory bodies, retail enterprises, manufacturers, development organizations, and consumers to drive future collaborative initiatives.

Within the framework of the program, delegates discussed international experience in deploying product refill models, deposit-refund systems, and packaging reuse; the pivotal role of retail businesses in advancing sustainable consumption; alongside strategies to encourage greater consumer engagement in plastic waste mitigation.

A central highlight of the seminar was the panel discussion titled "Opportunities, Challenges, and Solutions to Promote the Circular Economy among Vietnamese Retailers", moderated by Ms. Dang Nguyet Anh, Program Manager at the National Plastic Action Partnership.

Participants in the panel discussion included representatives from the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment, Unilever Vietnam, AEON Vietnam, Turn Green Holding, and the Vietnam E-commerce Association. Representing VECOM at the event was Mr. Doan Quoc Tam, Vice President of the Association. During the discussion, Mr. Doan Quoc Tam shared that VECOM has proactively collaborated with e-commerce platforms, businesses, international organizations, and regulatory authorities to advocate for green e-commerce. Over the years, VECOM has co-organized seminars, forums, and environmental protection commitment activities; partnered in developing the "Report on Plastic Packaging Waste from E-commerce in Vietnam 2023"; and issued the Green E-commerce Criteria Set, comprising 6 categories and 19 criteria, to encourage practical adoption by businesses. He also emphasized that VECOM will continue to integrate green e-commerce content into business programs and digital business competitions for university students, thereby driving initiatives to reduce plastic packaging, increase the use of recycled materials, and advance eco-friendly delivery services.

VECOM's participation contributes an e-commerce perspective to the formulation and implementation of circular economy solutions. As online shopping continues to expand, issues related to packaging, single-use plastic materials, transportation, delivery, and consumer behavior increasingly exert a significant impact on sustainable development goals.

Promoting a circular economy in e-commerce requires synchronized coordination among digital platforms, sellers, packaging manufacturers, logistics providers, regulatory authorities, and consumers. Solutions can focus on optimizing packaging size and quantity, utilizing eco-friendly materials, developing reusable packaging, enhancing post-consumer packaging sorting and recovery, and encouraging buyers to choose sustainable delivery and consumption methods.

The seminar served as an opportunity for stakeholders to share practical experiences, identify challenges during the transition, and propose initiatives tailored to the conditions of the Vietnamese market. Through this, the program contributes to driving active private sector participation in minimizing single-use plastic products, aiming toward a greener, circular, and more sustainable retail and e-commerce ecosystem.