Annex 1 - 2: The Service
NAME: TBC
ASSIGNMENT: Conduct research and propose solutions related to
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importing plastic scrap and packaging
IUCN REPORTING MANAGER: Bui Thi Thu Hien, Marine & Coastal Coordinator
LOCATION: Vietnam
DURATION: 26 June - 15 Oct 2023
To apply, please submit to Nhung.PHAMHONG@iucn.org your updated CV.
I. BACKGROUND
Vietnam's per capita plastic consumption has increased 11 times, from 3.8 kg/person/year in
digits per year [2], in which, the plastic packaging industry achieves a growth rate of 25% per
year and accounts for the highest proportion of revenue in the structure of the plastic industry
(38-39%) [3]. In 2020, nearly 114,500 tons of plastic beverage bottles, 231,000 tons of PET
bottles [4], 2.2 million tons of plastic bags, 290,000 tons of plastic boxes, cases, and more than
The World Bank report [7] shows that each year, an average of 3.9 million tons of PET, LDPE,
HDPE, and PP plastic are consumed in Vietnam.
Increased consumption of plastic products and plastic packaging has resulted in a significant
rise in the flow of plastic waste that leaks into the environment. The amount of plastic waste
generated in Vietnam is recorded at about 2.9 million tons in 2021 with an enlarging rate of
about 5% per year [8]. In 2018, the amount of plastic waste released into Vietnam's oceans
was estimated by IUCN at 453,000 tons [9].
[1] IUCN-EA-QUANTIS, 2020. Hướng dẫn quốc gia về xác định điểm nóng ô nhiễm nhựa và xây dựng hành động, Báo cáo cho Việt Nam.
https://plastichotspotting.lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vietnam_Finalreport_2020_10_22.pdf
[2] FiinResearch, 2021. Industry Preview: Vietnam Plastic Market 2021. https://business.gov.vn/nghien-cuu-thi-truong/chi-tiet-an-pham/67
[3] https://vietnamreport.net.vn/Xuc-tac-Covid19-khien-nganh-bao-bi-phan-cuc-10141-1006.html
[4] IUCN-EA-QUANTIS, 2020. Hướng dẫn quốc gia về xác định điểm nóng ô nhiễm nhựa và xây dựng hành động, Báo cáo cho Việt Nam.
https://plastichotspotting.lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vietnam_Finalreport_2020_10_22.pdf
[5] GA Circular (2019) Full Circle: Accelerating the Circular Economy for Post-Consumer PET Bottles in Southeast Asia,
http://www.gacircular.com/full-circle/ (cited by Eunomia, 2022)
[6] IUCN-EA-QUANTIS, 2020. Hướng dẫn quốc gia về xác định điểm nóng ô nhiễm nhựa và xây dựng hành động, Báo cáo cho Việt Nam.
https://plastichotspotting.lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vietnam_Finalreport_2020_10_22.pdf
[7] World Bank Group, 2021. Market Study for Vietnam: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers. Marine Plastics Series. World Bank,
Washington, DC. © World Bank
[8] Tuệ N.T., Dũng L.V., Quy T.Đ., Hiếu P.V., Hoài T.T., Linh L.T.K., Khoa N.D. Báo cáo hiện trạng chất thải nhựa năm 2022, WWF-Việt Nam.
[9] IUCN-EA-QUANTIS, 2020. Hướng dẫn quốc gia về xác định điểm nóng ô nhiễm nhựa và xây dựng hành động, Báo cáo cho Việt Nam.
https://plastichotspotting.lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vietnam_Finalreport_2020_10_22.pdf
The plastic industry - the second highest growth industry in Vietnam with a revenue of 15.6
billion USD in 2018 - has to import up to 85 - 90% of plastic materials because the domestic
supply does not meet the production demand in terms of uniformity between quality and
quantity [10]. The growth rate of the industry seems to be closely related to the amount of
imported raw materials. From 2013 to 2017, Vietnam's plastic industry imported recycled
plastic at an average of 91,400 tons/year, making Vietnam fourth among 10 ASEAN countries
[11]. After China's ban on importing plastic waste/scrap from abroad took effect in early 2018,
Vietnam became the world's second-largest importer of plastic waste/scrap [12].
While the Government is struggling to manage its own domestic plastic waste, this
international influx of plastic waste certainly contributes to the proportion of unmanaged and
leaking plastic waste into the environment.
Currently, the formal sector mainly uses imported plastic waste/scrap for recycling, while
domestic waste is collected in craft villages. The craft villages also use imported plastic
waste/scrap for recycling. In EPR schemes, domestic waste flows can be altered and this can
create a need for other waste sources from informal recyclers. Shortages can then be made
up by imported sources, whether legal or not. The proliferation of sources of illegal imports
will put pressure on not only the enforcement system but also the control of profiteering in
EPR schemes [13].
Controlling plastic scrap from the international market is the most controversial and
challenging issue for the Government due to the complexity of the type and the magnitude
of the volume. Scrap is a material that is recovered, classified, and selected from materials
and products that have been discarded from the production or consumption process that can
be reused as raw materials for another production process. While the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environment (MONRE) considers scrap as waste that can be reused, the
Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and manufacturers consider it as input material.
Therefore, MONRE requires imported plastic scrap to meet the provisions of the National
Technical Regulation on the environment for scrap [14]. The certificate of eligibility for
environmental protection in the import of scrap as raw production materials must be issued
by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment [15]. However, import activities are
carried out and supervised by the General Department of Vietnam Customs under the
Ministry of Finance (MOF) through Customs procedures [16].
On July 22, 2021, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1316/QD-TTg approving the Project
to Strengthen the Management of plastic waste in Vietnam (Project) with the aim to: (1)
strengthen the management of solid waste in Vietnam, from central to local levels,
[10] Hiệp hội nhựa Việt Nam. Tổng quan ngành nhựa Việt Nam. Xem tại http://vpas.vn/gioi-thieu/tong-quannganh.
html (truy cập ngày 1 Tháng 03 năm 2019); Vietnam Industry Research and Consultancy (2018), Vietnam
Plastics Comprehensive Report Q2/2018.
[11] Xuân Long, Trần Vũ Nghi and Lê Thanh (ngày 3 Tháng 04 năm 2019). Siết chặt nhập nguồn phế thải nhựa vô tội vạ. Xem tại
https://tuoitre.vn/siet-chat-nhap-nguon-phe-thai-nhua-vo-toi-va-20190403074535505.htm (truy cập ngày 12 Tháng 12 năm 2019)
[12] Hook, L. and Reed, J. (25 October 2018). Why the world’s recycling system stopped working. Xem tại
https://www.ft.com/content/360e2524-d71a-11e8-a854-33d6f82e62f8 (truy cập ngày 18 Tháng 05 năm 2019).
[13] Phuong N. H. (2021). Policy effectiveness assessment of selected tools for addressing marine plastic pollution. Extended Producer
Responsibility in Viet Nam. Bonn, Germany: IUCN Environmental Law Centre. 28pp
[14] Quy Chuẩn Kỹ Thuật Quốc Gia Về Môi Trường Đối Với Phế Liệu Nhựa Nhập Khẩu Làm Nguyên Liệu Sản
Xuất (QCVN 32:2018/BTNMT, ngày 14 Tháng 09 năm 2018).
[15] Ibid.; Nghị Định Sửa Đổi, Bổ Sung Một Số Điều Của Các Nghị Định Quy Định Chi Tiết, Hướng Dẫn Thi Hành
Luật Bảo Vệ Môi Trường (40/2019/ND-CP, 13 Tháng 05 2019). Điều 3 (28-34).
[16] Phuong, N.H. (2020). The legal, policy, and institutional frameworks governing marine plastics in Viet Nam. IUCN, Bonn, Germany
contributing to the implementation of the national strategy on integrated solid waste
management by 2025, with a vision to 2050; (2) contribute to building a circular economy
model in Vietnam with the orientation of reducing the use of single-use plastic products and
non-biodegradable plastic bags; (3) enhance reusing, recycling and disposing of plastic waste.
In order to achieve the above goal, the Project has set out the task of investigating, surveying,
and assessing the current situation of generation, collection, recycling, and treatment of
plastic waste, including the content of the overall assessment of the current state of plastic
waste, producing and using plastic products ensuring environmentally friendly, disposable
plastic products and non-reusable plastic bags; Surveying and assessing the production and
import of products and goods containing microplastics and the impact of microplastics on the
environment; and Investigating, surveying and evaluating the current situation of arising,
collection, recycling, and treatment of plastic waste and propose solutions to improve the
management efficiency.
Performing the function of state governance of the environment in the management of
environmental pollution in general and plastic pollution in particular, the Department of
Environmental Pollution Control (KSONMT) - MONRE is responsible for synthesizing
information, statistics on plastic waste (including arising, treatment and recycling) and plastic
production, scrap import activities within the scope and powers assigned.
This activity is carried out within the framework of “Strategic cooperation between IUCN
Vietnam and Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO) on plastic waste management,
and coordinate with the Project "Reducing ocean plastic waste in Vietnam" (Project)
implemented by WWF-VN with the Department of Seas and Islands of Vietnam on behalf of
MONRE as the project lead agency; The Department of Environmental Protection (formerly
the Vietnam Environment Administration) is one of the implementation partners of the
Project.
The project selects an independent consultant in the Customs field (in collaboration with the
consultant in the Environment field recruited by WWF) to carry out and jointly implement
"Research and propose solutions related to the import of scrap plastic and packaging" to
support relevant state government agencies in the management of environmental pollution
in general and plastic pollution in particular.
II. OBJECTIVES AND SCOPE OF WORK
The objective of this consulting service is to review the regulations, functions, and tasks of
agencies related to state governance of Customs and import-export agencies (at the Ministry
of Finance and the Ministry of Industry and Trade) and compile statistics on data in specialized
activities related to the management of export/import of plastic materials, plastic products,
and plastic scraps in Vietnam:
- Review and analyze regulations and coordination activities with relevant agencies in
ministries and sectors at central and local levels in import/export activities of plastic
scrap and plastic materials.
- Statistics on the quantity of plastic materials, plastic scraps, and plastic products
imported into Vietnam and exported from Vietnam with HS codes according to
regulations.
III. SPECIFIC TASKS FOR THE CONSULTANT
The Consultant will perform the following tasks:
Task 1: Review, analyze and evaluate policies, legal documents, regulations, guidelines, and
reports applicable to the Customs industry, and import-export industry related to
export/import management activities import plastic scrap and plastic raw materials.
- Review legal documents on functions, tasks, and powers of the General Department
of Customs, provincial/local Customs Departments in import/export activities of
plastic scrap and plastic materials;
- Synthesise and evaluate Customs documents and reports on the import/export of
plastic scrap and plastic materials;
- Review and synthesize Customs regulations and guidelines on the process of
management, storage, warehousing, and handling of plastic scraps and plastic
materials
- Share information (review report – task report 1) with the environmental consultant
(recruited by WWF-Vietnam) to jointly complete the summary report of the
environmental consultant's task 1.
Deliverables of task 1: 01 report “Review legal documents, documents, regulations,
guidelines and reports applicable to the Customs sector related to waste import/export
management activities plastic scraps and plastic materials”. The report is shared with the
environmental consultant to jointly complete the Task 1 report.
Task 2: Investigate and make statistics of data managed by the Customs Authority on the
import/export of plastic scrap and plastic production materials in a time series of about 5
years (2018 - 2022).
- Through focal points, specialized units in the Customs sector and related units,
conduct investigations, surveys, and collect data on the import of plastic scrap and
plastic materials. The data includes (but is not limited to): the type of scrap/raw
material, type, volume, quality, form, import/export management process, and
environmental protection regulations;
- Coordinate with the environmental consultant to provide data to complete the
environmental consultant's report on "Statistical results and analysis of data on the
Certificates of eligibility to import plastic scrap, environmental permits in the market
of importing plastic scrap in the 5-year period (2018 - 2022)" and recommendations
for additional solutions to improve the effective management of data, environmental
management regulations for scrap/ related materials.
Deliverables of task 2: 01 report "Synthesise data on export/import of plastic scrap and plastic
production materials"; provide data for the environmental consultant and jointly complete
the summary report of the environmental consultant's task 2 “Statistical results and ana lysis
of data on the Certificates of eligibility to import plastic scrap, environmental permits in the
market of importing plastic scrap in the 5-year period (2018 - 2022).”
IV. COORDINATION IN OTHER ACTIVITIES
The Consultant will work closely with the Environmental Consultant (employed by WWF-
Vietnam) to jointly perform the assigned tasks, ensuring the results are complementary,
integrated, and consistent in the scope of results on investigation, assessment, and
management of import of plastic scrap and plastic production materials. The Customs
consultant will also coordinate with the Environmental consultant to participate in the
organization of a consultation workshop/meeting (at least 1 research kick-off workshop and
research results.
V. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES
Consultants must have the following qualifications and experience:
- University degree or higher, priority is given to those who have experience in the field of
Customs and Trading.
- At least 5 years of experience in the development, evaluation, or implementation of laws,
policies, regulations, and guidelines in the field of Customs and Trading in Viet Nam.
- Having a good understanding and relationship with Central Customs authorities, import-
export agencies, and provinces and cities across the country.
- Priority is given to consultants with experience in working with ODA projects and
international organizations relating to working with the environment.
