The Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have joined forces to enhance their partnership, focusing on accelerating the circular economy in Vietnam's private sector.

The signing ceremony marks the launch of an innovative project called "Accelerate Circular Economy for Business" (ACE-Biz).

ACE-Biz aims to contribute to Vietnam's low-carbon and circular development by implementing circular guidelines, offering capacity-building programmes, facilitating technology transfer, and demonstrating a certification scheme.

These initiatives will promote the exchange of secondary materials and reusable goods through an online marketplace. The project will be a collaborative effort involving government bodies such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, private sector partners, and academia from both Vietnam and the Netherlands. Partners include Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park, NX Filtration Company, and Saxion University of Applied Sciences.

The project will develop comprehensive technical guidelines to help businesses integrate circular design principles and adopt circular industrial wastewater models. These guidelines will serve as practical frameworks to ensure sustainable and efficient recycling practices within businesses.

Additionally, the project will provide tailored capacity-building programmes to equip Vietnamese businesses with knowledge and skills for implementing green production methods and reducing environmental pollution through circular economy practices. The collaboration aims to drive tangible change and establish a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth by nurturing a network of circular economy champions in the private sector.

A significant aspect of the project involves establishing a closed-loop model for industrial wastewater. This model will demonstrate the economic viability of circular industrial wastewater treatment, inspiring and encouraging the adoption of similar models in other regions and industries.

The collaborative efforts between the Netherlands Embassy and UNDP align with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG13 (Climate Action).

The partnership aims to create a safer and cleaner environment by promoting circular economy principles while fostering sustainable and inclusive economic development.

"The strengthened collaboration between the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and UNDP underscores our shared commitment to driving the acceleration of circular economy practices in Vietnam's private sector," said Mr. Kees van Baar, the Netherlands Ambassador to Vietnam. "Together, we will leverage our expertise, resources, and networks to support Vietnamese businesses in transitioning towards a more sustainable and circular economy, thereby contributing to a greener future."

"UNDP is proud to reinforce its partnership with the Embassy of the Netherlands in advancing the circular economy agenda in Vietnam's private sector," said Ms. Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam. "By combining our knowledge and experience, we can drive transformative change and empower businesses to adopt sustainable practices, leading to a more resilient and prosperous future for Vietnam."

The ACE-Biz project represents a significant step towards realising Vietnam's vision of a circular economy. Building upon the success of the Capacity Building Programme for Enterprises implemented last year, which trained over 104 businesses and led to seven businesses formulating plans to transition/adopt circular business models, the project will address the identified gaps, limitations, and practical needs of Vietnamese enterprises.

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Source: The Kingdom of the Netherlands