Experts forecast that without better measures to address this packaging problem, the amount of plastic waste from eCommerce could reach 800,000 tonnes a year. — Vietnam News
HANOI: The boom of Vietnam’s eCommerce is leading to rising concerns of “white pollution” due to excessive non-biodegradable packaging, with experts urging greening efforts for sustainable economic growth.
Experts from the Vietnam E-commerce Association (Vecom) estimated that in 2023, the industry used up 332,000 tonnes of packaging, of which 171,000 tonnes were made of plastic.
Notably, 90% of fashion, accessories and fast food traders use plastic bags and containers for shipments.
Head of the policy department at Vecom Nguyen Huu Tuan said that the sector is seeing an annual growth rate of over 25%, which is expected to increase nearly five-fold by 2030.
Notably, the amount of waste generated from eCommerce and online shopping is estimated to be at least five times as much as that from traditional trading.
“We tend to think that eCommerce means sitting at home, making calls and surfing the Internet and that should produce less waste than traditional shopping methods.
“However, this is a misconception, as an order of the smallest value possible already requires a shipping package made from cartons, plastic and sticky tape.
“Meanwhile, in traditional commerce, we can use fewer plastic bags and rarely need tape and carton boxes,” Tuan told Tin tuc (News) newspaper.
Most online sellers want to ensure that their goods reach customers in the best condition, he added.
Therefore, they often wrap the products in multiple layers of sheets or line the shipping box with plastic air pillows.
Experts forecast that without better measures to address this packaging problem, the amount of plastic waste from eCommerce could reach 800,000 tonnes a year.
Statistics from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry showed that only about 10% of plastic waste is recycled.
Meanwhile, the eCommerce boom is mainly concentrated in coastal cities or areas along major rivers leading to the sea, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Danang and Nha Trang.
As most plastic waste from eCommerce is not collected, recycled or treated in an environment-friendly manner, there is a high probability that it ends up in the ocean.
Facing this “white pollution”, several delivery and packaging companies have taken measures for a greener eCommerce industry.
Since October last year, delivery service provider J&T Express has introduced three million eco-bags at distribution centres to replace conventional plastic bags.
Vietnam Post, considered the first postal service provider in the country to use electric vehicles for shipping, has also reported reducing its carbon dioxide emissions by 8.8 times. — Viet Nam News/ANN
