HCMC – Tetra Pak has cooperated with VECA to expand the collection of used beverage cartons to 18 districts in HCMC since October, up from 14 districts in the first phase.
Tetra Pak and VECA also set up additional collection sites at 10 condominiums in the city. The volume of cartons collected is expected to reach six tons after six months of the expansion program.
“We are committed to a low-carbon circular economy in each and every aspect of our business. This very commitment includes the focus on cooperating with recyclers to expand the carton collection network, as well as supporting food and beverage manufacturers in complying with extended producer responsibility rules,” said Luong Thanh Thu, sustainability manager at Tetra Pak.
The partnership with VECA is part of Tetra Pak’s goal to collect used cartons throughout the country, at any time, and building a culture of carton recycling in the country, she added.
Cartons were also added to the collection list of the VECA application on smartphones at the end of 2021. VECA, operating in a similar manner to ride-hailing services, connects those who wish to sell scrap and collectors in close proximity, while prices are made public and transparent.
The first phase of the program conducted through the VECA app has shown positive results. As of the end of August, 7,300 orders for scrap were made through the app, with more than two tons of used cartons collected.
Tetra Pak is actively implementing many initiatives to support the low-carbon circular economy in Vietnam. The company works closely with recycling partners to boost the capacity and quality for recycled products. One significant project is its 1.2-million euro investment in the Dong Tien Paper Factory, with an aim to enhance and amplify the plant’s capacity in recycling used cartons from 9,000 to 17,000 tons per year.
In 2022, Tetra Pak, together with the Packaging Recycling Alliance in Vietnam (PRO Vietnam) and the Circular Action Organization, started a pilot program in HCMC to collect and recycle used beverage cartons in the community. The program will last from August 2022 to March 2023, with an effort to collect and recycle 3,000 tons of beverage cartons, turning them into useful products, such as paperboard materials and bio-roof panels.
