On 12/6, the Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam) held its 7th annual conference in TP HCM, attended by nearly 150 delegates. As a founding member, TH Group has partnered with the alliance for seven years to promote the circular economy model. The event provided an opportunity for businesses to review collection and recycling results, reaffirming their commitment to sustainable development goals in Vietnam.

TH's booth at the event. *Photo: TH Group*

At the conference, a TH Group representative noted a positive shift among the Vietnamese business community towards a green lifestyle. Green consumption trends are increasing, and environmental standards are gradually becoming a prerequisite for accessing export markets or participating in international retail chains. Therefore, businesses no longer view environmental protection activities as a cost burden but rather as a strategic investment in competitiveness.

The core philosophy "Cherish Mother Nature," championed by founder Thai Huong, serves as the foundation for the group's pursuit of a circular economy model. The company applies interwoven science, technology, and management science to optimize resources and minimize negative environmental impacts across its entire value chain.

Currently, TH's production units continuously improve designs to optimize material usage. The company implements various simultaneous solutions, such as reducing bottle weight, decreasing the thickness of multipack films, and bottle labels. Notably, TH true WATER purified water products no longer use shrink wrap for bottle caps. These innovations, along with other solutions, help the company cut over 600 tons of plastic annually.

TH true MILK production line applies many green and sustainable solutions. *Photo: Son Minh*

To encourage user participation in the circular chain, TH places recycling logos on its carton packaging. This helps customers easily identify and develop awareness of recycling and waste separation at the source. All carton packaging for TH true MILK fresh milk utilizes 6-layer aseptic technology, designed optimally for the delamination process at specialized recycling plants.

Since 2018, the TH true mart store system has completely replaced single-use plastic bags with bio-bags. The company also changed the material of yogurt spoons to those derived from plant starch. From mid-2022, the company reduced the amount of plastic spoons supplied to the market by 50% to lessen environmental pressure.

TH's yogurt spoons made from plant starch. *Photo: TH Group*

Regarding collection, data from PRO Vietnam indicates that the volume of TH milk cartons recovered through the alliance reached over 21,000 tons during the 2024-2026 phase. Additionally, the group maintains its annual program "Collecting Cartons - Spreading a Green Lifestyle" at TH true mart stores nationwide. All cartons collected from consumers are sent to recycling plants for delamination and regeneration into new products, such as household items, educational supplies, or materials for community projects.

A group representative stated that investing in green packaging yields clear benefits in three areas: brand, market, and competitiveness. The company's image, associated with natural and environmentally friendly values, helps strengthen trust among health-conscious customers. This also helps products meet future environmental regulations in various countries.

However, sustainability experts note that the biggest current challenge lies not in recycling technology but in post-consumer recovery. Vietnam still lacks sufficiently effective collection and sorting systems to return used packaging to the production cycle. To address this bottleneck, a synchronized ecosystem involving the government, businesses, retailers, and citizens is needed. Experts believe that overcoming collection logistics difficulties will create economic momentum, making the packaging circular economy model deeper and more sustainable.

Thanh Thu