To address this challenge, and unlock new opportunities, the executive seminar “GreenPlas Vietnam: Financing the Circular Future” was held on 19 September at the Vietnam International Plastics & Rubber Industry Exhibition 2025, co-hosted by Chan Chao International and CCX Partners. It brought together manufacturers, suppliers and innovators to discuss how EPR policies, Vietnam’s Green Taxonomy, investment, and partnerships can drive the shift toward circularity.

The morning Strategy Forum featured Le Anh, Sustainability Director of Duy Tan Recycling; Phuong Le, Director of Thinh Vuong Plastics; and Phuong Nguyen, Managing Partner of CCX Partners, in a candid dialogue about EPR implementation and green investment. The conversation took place in the broader context of Vietnam’s ongoing “Đổi mới 2.0” reform agenda, including four major resolutions passed between late 2024 and 2025 on technology and innovation, internationalization, law enforcement, and private sector growth.

“Sustainability and recycling strategy have always been a need for Vietnamese companies even before EPR, for the purpose of saving costs and streamlining production machinery," Phuong Le, Director of Thinh Vuong Plastics observed

For multinationals with clear sustainability roadmaps, the path is straightforward. Major players like Duy Tan Recycling, embedded in FMCG supply chains, have a head start. The tougher question is whether Vietnam’s SMEs can secure a meaningful seat at the table in this transition.

The afternoon Innovation Forum spotlighted bold solutions from emerging players: BOTOL with its smart bottle collection machines, BUYO with biodegradable plastics from agricultural byproducts, and Turn Green with its breakthrough water-soluble plastic technology.

“It takes forever for start-ups to get into the supply chain. That’s why we need strategic partnerships and co-creation to truly contribute," said Jonathan, Co-founder of Turn Green.

Speakers emphasized that innovation alone is not enough. Progress requires collaboration across the entire value chain, from material suppliers to FMCG and F&B companies piloting applications, as well as accelerator programs and impact funds providing the capital to scale.

The message from GreenPlas Vietnam 2025 was clear: no single player can carry this transition alone. Partnerships, reinforced by financing and strong policy alignment, will determine whether Vietnam’s plastics industry can move beyond compliance and transform sustainability into a true competitive advantage.