Overview of Environmental Issues in Vietnam
Vietnam is currently facing significant environmental pollution challenges, including plastic pollution in the oceans and other various forms of pollution caused by agriculture, transportation, and industrial production. These issues have detrimental effects on marine life and disrupt ecosystems, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. As a result of all of this, Vietnam is one of the countries that are mostly affected by climate change as seen in fig 1, with its settlements and economic activity at an extremely high risk. It is crucial to address these challenges to ensure the safety of the residents and their public health, rates of employment, along with Vietnam’s sustainable economic growth. A few of the most pressing environmental issues threatening Vietnam are water pollution, rapid depletion, and the degradation of natural resources.
Fig 1
Introduction to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an environmental policy approach that holds producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, from design to disposal as shown in Fig 2. It is a proactive strategy that encourages companies to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products and manufacturing processes. Under EPR, producers are responsible for managing their products after they have been used by consumers, including recycling, reuse, and proper disposal. This approach aims to promote sustainable practices and reduce waste by incentivizing producers to design more sustainable and recyclable products. EPR policies typically involve shifting responsibility upstream towards the producer and away from municipalities, and they often provide incentives for environmentally conscious product design. By implementing EPR, companies can contribute to a circular economy model and minimize their environmental footprint. To summarize, to help reach national recycling and recovery targets, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy tool that expands the producer’s financial and operational duty for a product to include the management of the post-consumer stage. Therefore, EPR laws typically transfer some or all of the physical collection and waste management costs from local governments to producers.
Fig 2
Why might Vietnam need the implementation of EPR?
The rapid rate at which Vietnam’s industrialization is growing has caused negative impacts on the natural assets and the environment. Vietnam is one of the countries with the fastest-growing greenhouse gas emissions in the world, according to the World Bank. Although the country emits relatively little greenhouse gas (GHG), in the previous 20 years, its GHG emissions have increased fivefold. Over half of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to the energy sector, with waste, industrial activities, and agriculture. A World Bank analysis of water indicates that although water production is low—roughly 12% of worldwide benchmarks—water demand is still rising. Long-term growth prospects are adversely affected by the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources including fisheries, lumber, and sand. Vietnam’s economy and population are also extremely susceptible to the effects of climate change.
Benefits of Implementing EPR in Vietnam
Vietnam’s environmental difficulties can be addressed through the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). This will help reduce pollution and promote sustainable development. EPR provides a thorough method of addressing Vietnam’s major environmental concerns, which include plastic pollution, pollution from industry and agriculture, and the effects of climate change. EPR promotes appropriate waste management techniques, such as recycling and effective treatment, by holding manufacturers and importers responsible for the management of their goods throughout their lifecycle. This strategy encourages the shift to a circular economy, where waste is converted into useful resources, in addition to assisting in the reduction of pollution. Vietnam has the potential to achieve great progress in preserving the environment, encouraging sustainable lifestyles, and guaranteeing the welfare of its people and ecosystems by putting EPR into practice.
To read more about Vietnam and the implementation of EPR, head over to
https://press.ierek.com/index.php/ESSD/article/view/1041
References:
https://www.mondopoli.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Current-environmental-challenges-of-Vietnam.pdf
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/vietnam-environmental-technology
https://www.oecd.org/environment/extended-producer-responsibility.htm
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/extended-producer-responsibility
https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/vietnam-environmental-technology
Figure 1: https://blog.csiro.au/vietnam-environmental-challenges/
Figure 2: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/empowering-consumers-shifting-burden-navigating-epr-shrivastava-mw1gf
