Top in the world in terms of environment, Vietnam's worrisome 'achievement'

The economy is tied to waste

The circular economy is becoming a strong development trend in the world. In Europe, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark are at the forefront; in the Americas, typically Canada and the United States, and in Asia, China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. Up to now, there are about 34 countries with 118 typical models implementing this shift.

The circular economy is understood as a system that is renewable and restorative, through changes in the way goods and services are designed, produced and consumed. Thereby, extending the life of the material, transferring waste from the end point of the system back to the starting point, minimizing negative impacts on the environment.

Vietnam is currently ranked 4th in the world in terms of plastic waste

It is completely different from the traditional economic model (linear economy) applied so far. The linear economy is characterized by exploiting resources from the natural environment, using them as inputs for production, then consuming them and finally discharging them into the environment. Therefore, leading to an increase in waste, depletion of natural resources and pollution and environmental degradation.

Statistics in 2018 by the "GFN Global Footprint Network" estimated that the demand for natural resources for human economic activities is now 1.7 times more than the earth's capacity to meet.

Therefore, without changing the way of development, resource depletion and environmental pollution are inevitable. Forecasts say that by 2050, if there are no effective solutions, the total volume of plastic waste discharged into the oceans will be even more than the total volume of fish available at that time.

According to scientists, in order to solve the risk of resource depletion, pollution and environmental degradation, it is necessary to change the approach, transform from a "linear economy" model to a "circular economy", in which input resources, waste, emissions and energy are minimized, right from the production and consumption process, from design, maintenance, repair, reuse, remanufacturing, refurbishing and recycling in the long term, based on economic dynamics, towards a zero-emission economy.

Vietnam is a country with a low middle income. Although we are only a small country, ranking 68th in the world in terms of area and 15th in the world in terms of population, we are currently ranked 4th in the world in terms of plastic waste, with about 1.83 million tons/year. Along with that, the decline of resources, the rapid increase in energy consumption, pollution and land degradation, especially climate change, are seriously affecting economic development.

Therefore, the approach to transforming the model from "linear economy" to "circular economy" should be considered a priority in national development. The transition to a circular economy is a great opportunity for rapid and sustainable development.

Big challenges

Vietnam has had a number of manifestations of the circular economy, such as the model of gardens and ponds in agriculture or the formation of eco-industrial parks in recent years. However, considering from the essence, we have not yet had a circular economy model.

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the biggest challenge when transitioning to a circular economy is the awareness of the government, businesses and people to create a common consensus. The circular economy is associated with technological innovation and new model design, while Vietnam is a developing country, most of the technology is outdated, and the production scale is small.

As we pursue sustainability, we will use resources better and more efficiently.

So far, we have not had a legal corridor for the development of circular economy models, nor a set of criteria to identify and evaluate. summarize and accurately classify the development level of existing economic models, thereby having a plan to implement and replicate them.

A representative of Heineken Vietnam said that people have designed economic systems that are associated with waste and deplete resources, so it needs to change. The transition to a circular economy must start with a change in mindset. For businesses, it is the mindset for the product life cycle. It is necessary to design secondary functions after the first use, create products with high durability and low obsolescence, maximize the use of raw materials and treatment processes, exploit existing waste sources, etc using renewable energy, reusing water...

Sharing the same view, Lee&Man Group believes that, with a circular economy, waste must be considered as a "secondary resource" and must be directed towards production from recycled materials. Evidence shows that the use of recycled materials such as paper, steel, and aluminum,... It is always much less costly than resource extraction and helps to minimize the impact on the environment.

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry affirmed that when we pursue sustainability, we will use resources better and more efficiently. That helps reduce costs, as well as manage risks, thereby developing sustainably in the long run.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment believes that applying the circular economy model not only creates a positive impact on the environment and society but also creates great economic value. According to actual estimates in Europe, the circular economy can create benefits of 600 billion euros per year and 580,000 new jobs, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Tran Thuy/Vietnamnet