Toward the Global Plastic Treaty: A Review of the Vietnamese Regulatory Framework on Plastics

Countries around the world are negotiating a ground-breaking legally binding instrument by 2024 that will address the problem of worldwide plastic pollution. Vietnam is actively advocating for that global plastic treaty. This article discusses the comprehensive approach of addressing the full life cycle of plastics envisioned in the future treaty and analyses the current Vietnamese framework regulating plastics based on such a future treaty approach. Vietnamese regulations are examined to see whether they are sufficient and effective to support the implementation of the future plastic treaty in preventing plastic waste pollution across the entire plastic value chain. Based on the review, recommendations are made to further improve the relevant Vietnam’s regulatory framework.