Vietnam ministry proposes ending free single-use plastics and delaying ban to 2031

Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has proposed, in a draft decree under the Environmental Protection Law, replacing the planned ban on single-use plastics in shopping centres, supermarkets, hotels and tourist sites with a rule that such items and non-biodegradable bags may not be given away free. The draft pushes the end of production and import of plastic straws, cutlery, foam food boxes and thin non-biodegradable bags back to 2031. It also proposes minimum recycled content of 10% in plastic packaging and 20% in paper packaging.

Why this mattersThe delay and new recycled content mandates reshape compliance timelines and material sourcing for converters and brand owners in Vietnam.

• Draft decree replaces a ban with a restriction: single-use plastics and non-biodegradable bags may not be supplied free at shopping centres, supermarkets, hotels and tourist sites
• Halt to production and import of straws, cutlery and foam food containers proposed from 2031
• Halt for thin non-biodegradable plastic bags pushed back five years to 2031; thickness threshold cut from under 50 µm to under 30 µm
• Minimum recycled content proposed at 10% for plastic packaging for food, drinks, carrier bags and goods transport, and 20% for paper packaging
• Decree 08/2022 had required these venues to stop using single-use plastics after 2025

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