Tetra Pak Launches Cartons For Communities Platform To Keep Carton Materials In Circulation And Make Recycling More Accessible In Vietnam 

• Makes carton collection and recycling more accessible through a bilingual website. 

• Connects public- and private-sector partners across retail, schools and local communities. 

• Introduces a coordinated community collection model designed for systematic implementation and future expansion. 

Vietnam, September 30, 2026 – Tetra Pak, the global leader in food processing and packaging solutions, launched the Cartons for Communities platform to make food and beverage carton collection and recycling more accessible and convenient in Vietnam. Building on the company’s existing efforts in communities, retail locations and schools, the initiative brings together government agencies, industry associations, food and beverage manufacturers, collection and recycling partners, and local communities to promote source segregation, connect cartons with existing collection systems, and help keep valuable carton materials in circulation. 

Aligned with Vietnam’s National Action Plan for the Circular Economy and the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Cartons for Communities supports the development of a more integrated and scalable carton collection and recycling ecosystem. Through expanded collection opportunities and stronger collaboration across the value chain between public and private sectors, the platform aims to strengthen material recovery, improve access to carton collection and recycling, and contribute to long-term circularity outcomes in Vietnam. 

To mark the official launch of the platform in Vietnam, Tetra Pak has introduced a dedicated bilingual Cartons for Communities website in: 

• English: https://www.tetrapak.com/vi-vn/sustainability/focus-areas/circularity/cartons-for-communities 

• Vietnamese: https://www.tetrapak.com/vi-vn/sustainability/focus-areas/circularity/cartons-for-communities-vn 

The website aims to make food and beverage carton collection and recycling more accessible by: 

• Explaining how consumers can participate in three simple steps: empty, flatten and place the carton, including the cap, in a designated collection bin. 

• Providing a map to help consumers find nearby collection points. 

• Enabling organisations, collectors and recyclers to register their interest, access educational resources and connect with potential partners. 

• Sharing the latest news and activities from Tetra Pak and its partners related to food and beverage carton collection and recycling. 

Alongside the digital page, the platform seeks to promote segregation of recyclable materials at source, expand collection networks, strengthen local recycling capacity, and support the development of a more scalable and sustainable carton collection and recycling system: 

– “Thu gom vỏ hộp – Lan tỏa sống xanh” (TH true MILK): We have collaborated with TH on the “Thu gom vỏ hộp – Lan tỏa sống xanh” campaign, deployed across more than 40 TH retail stores. Consumers can drop off used food and beverage cartons at designated collection bins, participate in interactive activities, learn about the carton recycling process, and receive gifts made from recycled materials based on the number of cartons returned. 

– Vinamilk – Vietnam Environment Protection Fund Carton Collection & Recycling Pilot Programme: We have partnered with Vinamilk and the Vietnam Environment Protection Fund (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) on a pilot programme to support the collection and recycling of used food and beverage cartons, contributing to EPR implementation. Covering 110 Vinamilk retail stores and 15 schools nationwide, the programme includes dedicated collection infrastructure, educational activities, training teachers and students, and incentive gifts for consumers. Key milestones include a MoU signing ceremony and workshops in mid-October 2026 to exchange practical experiences and share insights and lessons learned from each phase. A dashboard will also track and report the volume of cartons collected and sent for recycling. 

– Community-based Collection & Recycling Programme: From Q4 2026 onwards, the programme is being discussed with relevant ministries, city-level People’s Committees, collection partners, and local communities to explore opportunities for implementation. The programme will pilot community-based collection and recycling models, encouraging residents to segregate used food and beverage cartons at source through conveniently located collection points and community engagement activities, and integrate recycling into their daily routines. Through Cartons for Communities, Tetra Pak is evolving from standalone collection points towards a more coordinated, community-based collection and recycling model. From December 2026, carton collection activities currently in operation will gradually transition to the Cartons for Communities model. The platform will focus on expanding community-based collection through collaboration with local authorities, waste collection operators and recycling partners, helping make carton collection more integrated into residents’ daily routines. 

Under this model, used food and beverage cartons will be collected from designated points in residential communities by waste management operators according to the collection schedules before being transferred to designated collection and recycling partners. Supported by a digital page, this coordinated approach aims to make carton collection part of residents’ daily routines, create a more consistent and systematic collection process, improve data transparency and support EPR implementation in Vietnam. 

Mr. Patinya Silsupadol, Head of Sustainability, Tetra Pak Thailand and Vietnam, said: “Cartons for Communities reflects our commitment to supporting the implementation of EPR in Vietnam and contributing to the country’s transition towards a circular economy. By bringing together government agencies, industry associations, food and beverage manufacturers, collection and recycling partners, and local communities, the platform aims to strengthen collaboration and improve access to carton collection and recycling eco-system. We hope this initiative will encourage broader participation in carton recycling and inspire simple everyday actions.”  

For more information on preparing food and beverage cartons for collection, finding nearby collection points, or joining Cartons for Communities as a partner, please visit the Cartons for Communities website: https://www.tetrapak.com/vi-vn/sustainability/focus-areas/circularity/cartons-for-communities 

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About Tetra Pak

We’re here to make food safe and available. It’s why we provide advanced food production systems. In collaboration with our customers and suppliers, driven by more than 24,000 dedicated employees worldwide, we protect food sustainably every day for hundreds of millions of people in more than 160 countries. Because we’re here to fulfil a purpose: 

We commit to making food safe and available, everywhere, and we promise to protect what’s good: food, people and the planet.

More information about Tetra Pak is available at tetrapak.com. 

About Cartons For Communities

Cartons for Communities is a collaborative platform in Vietnam that supports the collection and recycling of food and beverage cartons. It brings together stakeholders across the recycling value chain, including government agencies, businesses, schools, communities, collectors and recyclers, through awareness activities, training and support for sorting and collection. The platform aims to strengthen participation in carton recycling, improve access to local collection networks and help keep valuable carton materials in circulation. Organisations interested in taking part can use the platform to explore participation and partnership opportunities.