Vietnam aims for 'circular economy' with recycling law

From Apple to Asahi, new rules encourage cleaner supply chains and greener products

20220104 recycle electronic equipment parts vietnam

Women sort recyclable parts from electronic equipment in Quan Do, Vietnam: The country is concerned about becoming a dumping ground for the world's electronic waste.  © Reuters

LIEN HOANG, Nikkei staff writer

HO CHI MINH CITY -- Twice a week, Veritas Vietnam staff drop by Starbucks to pick up old coffee grounds, from which the company concocts shoes, cups, and masks for clients like Mercedes and InterContinental Hotels.

It is an alluring proposition: Reduce waste by making goods less harmful to begin with by replacing plastic with organic inputs. This is one of several strategies underpinning the concept of a "circular economy," meant to replace today's throwaway culture with products that last.

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