HCM CITY — Tetra Pak has launched Cartons for Communities, a platform to make the collection and recycling of food and beverage cartons more accessible in Việt Nam.

Building on the company’s existing initiatives in communities, shops and schools, the platform brings together Government agencies, industry associations, food and beverage manufacturers, collection and recycling partners and local communities. It aims to encourage waste sorting at source, connect used cartons with existing collection systems and keep recyclable materials in circulation.

The initiative is aligned with Việt Nam’s National Action Plan for the Circular Economy and the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It seeks to strengthen collection networks, expand recycling capacity and support a more coordinated and scalable carton recycling system.

Tetra Pak has partnered with TH and Vinamilk on carton collection and recycling programmes, including a pilot with the Vietnam Environment Protection Fund under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to support extended producer responsibility (EPR). The programmes cover more than 40 TH stores, 110 Vinamilk stores and 15 schools nationwide.

As of October 2026, the programme is being discussed with relevant ministries, municipal People’s Committees, collection partners and local communities to explore opportunities for implementation.

Tetra Pak said the platform marks a move from standalone collection points towards a coordinated, community-based model. From December 2026, existing carton collection activities are expected to transition gradually to the Cartons for Communities model.

Under the planned model, waste management operators will collect used cartons from designated points in residential communities according to scheduled routes, then transfer them to designated collection and recycling partners. A digital page will support the initiative.

The company said the approach is intended to make carton collection more convenient for residents, create a more consistent process, improve data transparency and support the implementation of EPR in Việt Nam. — BIZHUB