Hanoi (VNA) – Ecological design aims to minimise the environmental impact of plastic packaging over its entire life cycle, heard a seminar on packaging eco-design in the food and beverage industry.
The seminar, co-organised by the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment and the World Wide Fund for Nature Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam) on February 21, highlighted that products and their packaging must be designed to meet global standards concerning environmental impact.
Deputy Director of the institute Nguyen Trung Thang said that eco-design is a proactive approach in the process of developing a product or a service, aiming at minimising environmental impact throughout the life cycle, from material selection to disposal.
He said proper product design can help reduce environmental impact by up to 80% over the product's life cycle.
The institute’s scientists have conducted research on international experience in ecological design, Thang said, noting that the European Union (EU), Japan, and China have long recognised its important role.
To effectively implement ecological design, it is a must to have a comprehensive legal framework with binding regulations, as well as guidelines and incentives that encourage behavioral changes among businesses and consumers.
Dr. Dinh Quang Hung from the institute noted that the food and beverage is one of the sectors that contributes significantly to Vietnam's GDP, with revenue reaching approximately 590 billion VND (23.11 million USD) in 2023.
He noted that consumer demand for this sector is also increasing. The ecological design of packaging in the industry will help reduce pollution and promote sustainable resource use, building a green and sustainable brand image.
Hung said that food and beverage businesses hope to receive financial and technical support from the State in transitioning to ecological design and raising consumer awareness of the benefits of ecological packaging, thereby stimulating demand./.
VNA
