Page 65 - Plastics News June 2026

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

are choosing to make financial contributions to strong enough to drive investment in domestic
environmental funds rather than directly invest- recycling capacity.
ing in recycling systems. The review comes as
Vietnam continues to refine its circular economy Recent regulatory updates have aimed to clarify
agenda under its wider environmental protection obligations and strengthen enforcement, includ-
law, which places responsibility on producers and ing refinements to exemptions, reporting rules
importers for the end-of-life treatment of pack- and contribution mechanisms. Vietnam’s EPR
aging and products. At the centre of the debate framework has undergone a series of adjust-
ments in recent years to improve implementa-
tion. Under updated provisions, producers are
required to declare their packaging volumes and
calculate contributions based on defined for-
mulas, with payments made into a central fund
managed by the state.

Chile MMA Implements Decree 30 for compli-
ance

is whether the current EPR model is delivering
enough on-the-ground infrastructure for waste
collection, sorting and recycling, or whether it is
being treated largely as a compliance payment
mechanism. Vietnam’s EPR policy requires pro-
ducers and importers of packaging and certain
products to take responsibility for post-consum-
er waste. They can do this in two main ways: by
organising recycling activities themselves or by
paying a financial contribution into the Vietnam
Environmental Protection Fund.

In practice, many companies have opted for the
payment route. This approach is often simpler
for businesses, particularly multinational firms Chile is stepping up enforcement of its packag-
managing complex supply chains and multiple ing laws, signalling that compliance is becom-
packaging formats. However, policymakers are ing just as important as sustainable packaging
increasingly questioning whether this model is design along with introducing stronger controls

June 2026 PLASTICS NEWS 67