Representatives from DUYTAN Recycling Company and Ajinomoto Vietnam signed the agreement. — Photo courtesy of DUYTAN Recycling

HCM CITY — DUYTAN Recycling Company and Ajinomoto Vietnam have signed a cooperation agreement to collect and recycle plastic packaging as part of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme.

This initiative aims to enhance packaging collection and recycling, reduce plastic waste in the environment and foster a circular economy in waste management.

Aligned with Ajinomoto Group's sustainable development goals, Ajinomoto Vietnam has undertaken several initiatives, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimising food loss, decreasing plastic pollution and bolstering efforts in packaging collection and recycling throughout its product lifecycle.

Under the new partnership, DUYTAN Recycling and Ajinomoto Vietnam plan to collect and recycle 94 tonnes of plastic waste in 2024, equivalent to approximately 7.3 million plastic bottles. This collaboration not only highlights their commitment to advancing waste sorting, collection and recycling but also extends to communication campaigns aimed at promoting environmental protection and making a positive community impact.

Plastic waste poses significant challenges due to its difficulty in decomposition and its substantial burden on global waste management systems. Recognising this, DUYTAN Recycling is dedicated to advancing a circular economy in Việt Nam as a core component of its long-term strategy, employing cutting-edge technologies and modern processes to support a greener, more sustainable environment.

In Việt Nam, the EPR policy is crucial for developing a circular economy. It allows businesses to meet rising partner expectations and engage more deeply in the global value chain. DUYTAN Recycling is proud to be listed among the approved recycling units by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, as announced in Notice No 86/TB-BTNMT on February 20, 2024.

For manufacturers, recycling has become a legal requirement. According to the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and Decree 08/2022/ND-CP, starting January 1, 2024, manufacturers and importers of batteries, accumulators, lubricants, tires, and packaging (including plastics and paper) are mandated to recycle their products and packaging after they are discarded by consumers.

DUYTAN Recycling started construction in June 2019 on a 65,000sq.m site within Đức Hòa Hạ Plastic Industrial Park in the southern province of Long An, with a production capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year. The facility features a state-of-the-art production line recently imported from Europe. In addition to adhering to ISO management system standards, the company’s products meet the stringent requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and hold international certification from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

This certification underscores the quality of its recycled plastic pellets, which are suitable for manufacturing food-contact products, including drinking water bottles. The factory uses ' Bottle-to-Bottle' recycling technology, transforming used plastic bottles into new plastic pellets and thereby creating a continuous loop of plastic bottle production, which helps reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

Ajinomoto Vietnam Company, established in 1991, is a wholly foreign-invested entity under the Ajinomoto Group. The company operates two representative offices in HCM City and Hà Nội, as well as manufacturing plants in Biên Hòa (since 1991) and Long Thành (since 2008). Additionally, Ajinomoto Vietnam operates three large distribution centers and 66 branches across 63 provinces and cities, supported by 298 sales teams and employing nearly 2,300 staff members. The company’s core philosophy is to 'Contribute to bringing health and happiness to the people and society of Việt Nam through providing quality products and valuable initiatives'. VNS