The Department of Environment under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and Unilever Vietnam on June 23 launched the Plastic Circularity Innovation Solutions 2026 competition as part of a strategic partnership for the 2026-2030 period.
The initiative marks an expansion of the public-private partnership between the two parties to promote the plastic circular economy in Vietnam, building on a collaboration platform established in 2020.
Over the past five years, the partnership has contributed to the collection and recycling of more than 60,000 tons of plastic waste into packaging and other products, while supporting waste sorting and recycling initiatives and the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Unilever Vietnam said that 70 per cent of its current packaging is recyclable, with recycled plastic accounting for an average of 50 per cent of the plastic used in its packaging.
Under the memorandum of understanding signed for the 2026-2030 period, the Department of Environment and Unilever Vietnam will seek to strengthen connections among policymakers, businesses, technology providers, investors, and the innovation community to help bring plastic circularity solutions into practical implementation.
The Plastic Circularity Innovation Solutions 2026 competition will focus on supporting initiatives with the potential to be validated, refined, and scaled up, particularly those addressing challenges in waste sorting, collection, recycling, and the use of recycled materials in production.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr. Tang The Cuong, Director of the Department of Environment, said that protecting the environment, utilizing resources efficiently, and developing a circular economy are becoming the inevitable trends for many countries. For Vietnam, this is a major policy of the Party and the State aimed toward a green growth model, sustainable development, and improved resource utilization efficiency.
“I believe that the ‘Plastic Circularity Innovation Solutions 2026’ Competition will continue to discover many valuable initiatives, contributing to promoting the circular economy, mitigating plastic pollution, and strongly spreading the spirit of innovation for a green and sustainably developed Vietnam,” he noted.
Sharing a corresponding perspective, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Van, Country Managing Director of Unilever Vietnam, said the country’s green transition requires a different perspective on plastics. “The country’s green transition journey begins with recognizing plastic not as waste, but as a resource. This is the crucial premise of the transition journey for plastics so that they can circulate back to serve daily life.
“With the ‘Plastic Circularity Innovation Solutions 2026’ Competition, Unilever Vietnam hopes to join the Department of Environment and partners in fostering an effective public-private partnership mechanism, so that potential initiatives can be connected with practical needs, tested within the value chain, and gradually scaled up, contributing to Vietnam’s dual green-digital transition and sustainable growth, as well as reaching the global market,” she said.
The competition seeks innovative solutions across a broad range of areas, including packaging design, alternative materials, recycling technologies, collection and sorting models, circular business models, and initiatives that reduce plastic waste and promote sustainable consumption.
Unlike programs focused primarily on recognizing ideas, the 2026 edition emphasizes practical deployment. Promising solutions will have opportunities to access a network of experts, government agencies, businesses, development organizations, and investors to refine their models, conduct pilot projects, and pursue commercialization and scale-up opportunities.
The program has three main objectives. The first is to connect innovators with businesses and organizations seeking practical plastic circularity solutions. The second is to promote capital flows for green innovation by creating opportunities for promising projects to access financial resources, technical expertise, and partner networks. The third is to accelerate Vietnam’s green and digital transition by encouraging the application of technology, data, and automation in waste collection, sorting, recycling, and material flow management.
The competition builds on the results of the 2024 edition, which attracted more than 350 projects, ideas, and businesses, connected over 500 individuals and organizations, and engaged 42 experts. The program generated 48 innovative ideas and 47 potential solutions, supported by more than 60 hours of training, mentoring, and networking activities. Organizers said the initiative reached more than 23 million people through media and social media channels.
Several projects from the previous competition have already moved beyond the concept stage. Most recently, Unilever Vietnam collaborated with GRAC Technology Joint Stock Company, an award-winning participant from the 2024 program, and the People’s Committee of Tan My Ward in Ho Chi Minh City to implement a technology-integrated waste sorting station model. The project is being cited as an example of how innovation can move from competition stage to practical deployment through collaboration among local authorities, businesses, and technology providers.
According to the organizers, the 2026 edition represents an upgrade in execution rather than simply a continuation of the earlier program. Building on the network of innovators and partners established in 2024, this year’s competition will place greater emphasis on connecting solutions with market demand, facilitating access to resources, supporting pilot implementation, and helping projects move toward commercial scalability.
The “2026 Circular Plastics Innovation Solutions Competition” will officially open for applications in mid-July 2026. Applications will go through three rounds of selection, evaluation, and training before the results are announced in Q1 2027. Detailed information on the rules and participation methods will be published by the Organizing Committee on the website www.unilever.com.vn in mid-July 2026.
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