Hanoi, July 20 -- Vietnam needs to move beyond collecting and treating plastic waste after it is generated and instead manage plastics throughout its entire life cycle if the country is to reduce pollution, accelerate the circular economy and strengthen its competitiveness in a greener global market, experts have said.

For years, efforts to tackle plastic pollution in Vietnam have focused mainly on waste collection, recycling and disposal. However, as sustainable development and green trade standards become increasingly important, specialists argued that a broader approach is needed, covering everything from product design and material selection to production, consumption and recycling.

Vietnam generates around 3.1 million tonnes of pla...