Vietnam drafts plastic bag charges, 2031 single-use phase-out and recycled-content quotas
Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has drafted a decree under which shopping malls, supermarkets, hotels and tourist sites could no longer give away non-biodegradable plastic bags and single-use plastic items, which customers would pay for instead of an outright ban in 2026. The draft would halt production and import of plastic straws, cutlery and styrofoam food containers, and of non-biodegradable bags thinner than 30 microns, from 2031, and set minimum recycled content of 10% for certain plastic packaging and 20% for paper packaging.
Why this mattersA recycled-content mandate and 2031 plastics phase-out in Vietnam would force packaging converters and brand owners serving the market to shift material and sourcing strategies.
- The draft decree would end free distribution of non-biodegradable bags and single-use plastics at malls, supermarkets, hotels and tourist sites, instead of a full ban in 2026
- Production and import of plastic straws, knives, spoons, forks and styrofoam food containers would stop from 2031
- The deadline for thin non-biodegradable plastic bags would be pushed back five years to 2031
- The bag thickness threshold would fall to under 30 micrometres from under 50, and the size criterion would be removed
- Plastic packaging for beverages, food, carrier bags and goods transport would need at least 10% recycled content; paper packaging at least 20%
- The draft revises the roadmap set in Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP
Sources
vietnam.vn