Accelerate Circular Economy for Business (ACE-Biz)

Introduction:

Viet Nam's transformative journey towards a Circular Economy (CE) since 2020 has been marked by significant legislative milestones, including the integration of CE principles into the draft Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2021-2030) and the Revised Law on Environmental Protection (LEP) 2020. The issuance of Decree 08/2022/ND-CP and the Master Plan on CE by the Prime Minister further underscores the country's commitment to fostering a green recovery and enhancing its competitive edge, aligning with the objectives of the Green Growth National Strategy.

While policy advancements have been notable, the practical implementation of the CE approach has encountered obstacles. These challenges include a lack of sector-specific knowledge and data, regulatory constraints, and the intricate nature of value chains, necessitating collaborative efforts across diverse sectors and stakeholders. Businesses face hurdles such as limited awareness, expertise, incentives, and financial constraints, impeding their ability to transition to circular economy practices.

To address these challenges and promote sustainable development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has initiated various projects, notably the establishment of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Quy Nhon City, aimed at promoting responsible waste management and recycling practices. The Viet Nam Circular Economy Hub, developed in collaboration with the Institute of Strategy, Policy on Natural Environment (ISPONRE) of MONRE, serves as a pivotal platform to promote CE principles and foster collaborative partnerships among government bodies, businesses, civil society, and academia.

Furthermore, strategic partnerships between the Embassy of the Netherlands, UNDP, and other stakeholders have resulted in the implementation of capacity-building programs for enterprises, highlighting the necessity of accelerating the CE transition in Vietnam. Recent collaborations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) signify joint efforts to reduce emissions and promote CE through various initiatives, including capacity building, technology transfers, and technical support in critical areas such as industrial wastewater management, circular design, eco-innovation, and plastic recycling.

Objective:

The overall objective of ACE-Biz project is to contribute to Viet Nam’s low-carbon and circular development, by transforming business, through formulating circular guidelines, delivering capacity-building programmes and fostering technology transfer, and demonstrating the certification scheme to promote exchanges of secondary materials and reusable goods through an online marketplace.

Expected Results:

COMPONENT 1: TECHNICAL GUIDELINES FACILITATING RECYCLING ACTIVITIES OF ENTERPRISES, DEVELOPED AND ENDORSED

  • Output 1.1: Technical guidelines and standards to reuse industrial water as input materials, developed
  • Output 1.2: Roadmap on eco-design including technical guidelines focusing on plastic packaging and products, developed
  • Output 1.3: Assessment of demand of plastic scraps in manufacturing and of constraints hindering the use of recycled plastic to support MOIT in implementing Decision 1316/2021/QD-TTg, conducted

COMPONENT 2: CAPACITY OF VIETNAMESE BUSINESS TO DEMONSTRATE GREEN PRODUCTION AND REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION THROUGH CIRCULAR ECONOMY, ENHANCED

  • Output 2.1: Circular training program targeting SMEs in prioritized sectors, designed, delivered and lessons learned collected and disseminated
  • Output 2.2: Close-loop models for industrial wastewater facilitated and piloted, in Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park
  • Output 2.3: Strengthening the current market-place tools for recycled material to further enhance circular economy opportunities.
  • Output 2.4: Designing and piloting an online marketplace for secondary material resource exchange for plastic and textile sectors

COMPONENT 3: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT, MONITORING AND EVALUATION

  • Output 3.1: Project inception, monitoring and evaluation
  • Output 3.2: Knowledge management and dissemination
     

Impact

START DATE

July 2023

END DATE

December 2025

STATUS

Ongoing

PROJECT OFFICE

Viet Nam

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER

UNDP

DONORS

DEUTSCHE GESELLSCHAFT FUR INTERNATIONALE

GOVERNMENT OF NETHERLANDS

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

THE CIRCULATE INITIATIVE INC.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

$1,311,919

DELIVERY IN PREVIOUS YEARS

2023$240

2024$164,655

Full Project information