Towards the goal of zero plastic waste in the environment in Vietnam to 2025, businesses and organizations have constantly promoted plastic waste management activities. Within that, applying technology to build a circular economy in plastic waste management is one of the focuses, which aligns with Unilever Vietnam’s future-fit vision.
Leverage strengths to drive the circular economy
During its 27-year presence in Vietnam, Unilever has been a companion of many Vietnamese generations, playing an essential role in daily life. The company always strives to make a sustainable living commonplace, accompanying the Government and people to make Vietnam a liveable place, in terms of both socio-economic and environmental aspects.
In order for this journey to go far and earn the sustainability for the future, Unilever Vietnam always leverages its advantages in most activities, particularly environmental protection through building the circular economy in plastic waste management.
“Our brands have quickly and thoroughly implemented sustainability programs, and apply sustainable development technology and innovation to the product development programs. At the same time, we also closely work with a network of partners to bring our commitments deeper and wider to the community and society,” said Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Van, Unilever Vietnam Chairwoman.
Technology to unlock plastic management solutions
Taking advantage of technology and innovation, Unilever Vietnam has been promoting commitments on plastic waste management to 2025:
- 100% of product packaging is reusable, recyclable or biodegradable
- 50% of plastic reduction in packaging production through reducing the virgin plastic use and increasing recycled plastic use
- Collecting and processing plastic waste more than the amount of product packaging that the business sells
Specifically, through technology application to “Less plastic, better plastic, no plastic” model and plastic waste processing, Unilever Vietnam has increased product packaging recyclability, maximized the use of post-consumer recycled plastic and reduce the virgin plastic use in packaging production.
Until now, 62% of product packaging from Unilever brands is reusable, recyclable or biodegradable. For example, CLEAR has pioneered to launch the first-of-its-kind recylable shampoo sachet thanks to applying Mono-material and SmartSense™ technology.
Next, the company reduces 55% of plastic in production thanks to reducing the use of virgin plastic and increasing the use of recycled plastic. Specifically, product concentration and compaction contribute to reducing the amount of plastic used in packaging production.
In addition, 100% of Unilever Vietnam’s product packaging contains post-consumer recycled plastic. The bottles of Sunlight, Comfort, Love Beauty & Planet brand products, thanks to the application of technology, are all manufactured from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic.
At the same time, the company has applied the technology in plastic waste processing to produce 1,700 trash bins from 30 tons of recycled plastic, with the waste segregation function and located at 50 governmental agencies and ministries to facilitate communications for waste segregation at source.
Unilever Vietnam is committed to continuing to promote the application of technology – innovation in plastic waste management, thereby contributing to the goal of plastic waste-free in the environment in Vietnam by 2025 and heading towards a waste-free world.
