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Integration to aspiration
In the early 1990s, when Vietnam's plastics industry was still in its infancy—producing only a few hundred thousand tons per year with largely manual technology—VPA emerged as a pioneering force. It played a vital role in connecting businesses, promoting knowledge exchange, and facilitating technology transfer.
More than three decades later, the industry has reached an impressive scale of around $32 billion, expanding nearly 24% year-on-year from 2023. It now contributes 6–7% of Vietnam's total industrial output, provides jobs for over 250,000 workers, and exports to more than 190 countries.
Vietnamese enterprises have been investing in automation, eco-design, recycling technology, and sustainable materials, signaling a transformation from quantity-driven expansion to quality-based, long-term growth.
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Signing ceremony of cooperation on recycling and sustainable development with national EPR. Photo courtesy of Stavian Group |
The highlight of VPA's 35th Anniversary Celebration was the panel discussion "Vietnam's Plastics Industry in the Era of National Rise," which brought together policymakers, economists, and business leaders to discuss strategies for innovation, green transformation, and circular economy integration.
In his keynote address, Dinh Duc Thang, Chairman of the Vietnam Plastics Association, noted that Vietnam is entering a new era where global standards for environmental protection, trade regulations, and green production are becoming increasingly strict.
"This is not merely a challenge but an opportunity for Vietnam's plastics industry to restructure its growth model, advance technology, and align corporate governance with ESG standards," he said.
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Dinh Duc Thang, Chairman of the Vietnam Plastics Association. Photo courtesy of Stavian Group |
From local roots to global reach
As Chairman of VPA for the 2023–2028 term, Dinh Duc Thang continues to build on the association's 35-year legacy while shaping a new strategic vision for the next phase of the plastics industry.
In addition to his VPA role, Thang also serves as Chairman of Stavian Group, a multinational corporation operating across five core sectors: industrial production, high technology, industrial infrastructure, energy transition, and global trading and investment.
Drawing on his corporate leadership experience, Thang brings a practical perspective to green transformation, sustainable governance, and innovation, helping define a clearer strategic path for both VPA and the broader plastics business community in an era of global integration.
He outlined five strategic priorities for the industry's next phase:
Under this framework, VPA is implementing concrete actions such as developing national eco-design and EPR standards, collaborating with ministries to improve policy frameworks and reduce compliance costs, piloting collection–sorting–recycling models in local communities, and expanding international cooperation to update technology and align with global green consumption trends.
"Our aspiration for advancement is not a slogan—it's a commitment to action," Thang emphasized. "Vietnam's plastics industry will proactively secure raw materials, reduce import dependence, strengthen domestic petrochemical production, and pursue a sustainable, circular, and human-centered development path."
He added that the 35th Anniversary Celebration and its thematic panel marked a declaration of determination—an affirmation that Vietnam's plastics community stands ready to move confidently into an era of national rise, powered by resilience, intellect, and unity.
"VPA is laying the foundation for a sustainable future—one where Vietnam's plastics industry not only rises nationally but also cements the country's position on the global green industry map," Thang said.
