On February 26, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Viet Nam announced the launch of the 2025 Plastic Innovation Programme. In collaboration with its partners, UNDP will provide $30,000 in support for six sustainable and eco-friendly initiatives to reduce plastic pollution in Viet Nam.
Finding Plastic Innovation Initiatives
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in Viet Nam, approximately 1.8 million tons of plastic waste are generated annually, with 0.28 to 0.73 million tons ending in the ocean. However, businesses and facilities recycle or repurpose only 27% of this waste.
Notably, plastic waste management and recycling remain limited, with 90% of plastic waste being disposed of through landfilling or incineration, while only 10% is recycled. This underscores the urgent need for innovative solutions to improve plastic waste management.
Speaking at the launch of the 2025 Plastic Innovation Programme, UNDP Viet Nam Resident Representative Ramla Khalidi highlighted that, according to a UNDP survey, only about one-third of innovative solutions in Viet Nam have the potential for scalability and widespread application. Most other initiatives remain fragmented and are still in the pilot stage.
This reality underscores the pressing need to foster meaningful and scalable innovations to combat plastic pollution, requiring investment and collaboration from multiple stakeholders at both national and local levels.
As part of the program, UNDP and its partners will fund sustainable and environmentally friendly initiatives to reduce plastic pollution in Vietnam. $30,000 in grants will be awarded to six winning projects.
The program focuses on three key objectives: Identifying innovative solutions in plastic management; Addressing the entire plastic life cycle by promoting alternative materials, eco-design, new business models, advanced technologies, waste management improvements, recycling mechanisms, and financial incentives; Supporting the development of policy frameworks to facilitate these innovations and expand the implementation of practical solutions.
Currently, UNDP Viet Nam is collaborating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Science and Technology to ensure alignment with national policies and provide guidance for innovators on regulatory integration and policy enhancement.
Delegates launch the programFour key criteria
Regarding the program’s selection criteria, Mr. Hoang Thanh Vinh, Program Manager for Waste and Circular Economy at UNDP Vietnam, emphasized that proposed solutions will be evaluated based on four main groups of criteria.
Firstly, the innovation and creativity group. Participating initiatives must demonstrate originality and innovative approaches to tackling plastic pollution.
Secondly, environmental and social impact groups. Environmentally, the initiatives should contribute to reducing plastic waste. Socially, they should create green job opportunities and generate positive impacts and benefits for local communities.
Thirdly, the economic sustainability group. While not the primary focus, financial viability is still crucial to ensure the long-term success and scalability of the proposed solutions.
Lastly, Team Capacity and Inclusivity. Proposing teams must reflect diversity, focusing on gender equality and inclusiveness.
The program particularly encourages participation from women’s groups, youth, NGOs, community organizations, government and non-government academic or research institutions (national and international), and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Beyond scaling up successful initiatives, the program aims to develop innovative business models for waste collection and recycling, provide technical advice on environmental best practices, and leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance plastic waste management—ultimately minimizing plastic leakage into the environment.