Sharing EPR and circular economy experiences from Germany and Norway

The delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment conducted a working visit to Germany and Norway to exchange experiences on waste management policies, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for producers and importers, and the promotion of the circular economy.

As part of a working visit to Germany and Norway from May 18 to 22, 2026, a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, led by Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh, held meetings with government agencies, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) organizations, technology companies, waste collection, sorting and recycling facilities, and international partners to study experiences in municipal solid waste management, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Deposit Return Systems (DRS) and the circular economy.

The delegation also included Mr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, along with representatives from the Environmental Department, the Department of Legal Affairs, the Department of International Cooperation, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of An Giang Province, the Embassy of Norway in Viet Nam and the United Nations Development Programme.

Studying Germany’s experience in EPR, DRS and the circular economy

In Germany, the delegation worked with EPR organizations, environmental technology companies and waste collection, sorting and recycling facilities to gain practical insights into the implementation of waste management and circular economy policies.

Under Germany’s model, producers and importers bear both financial and organizational responsibility for the collection, sorting and recycling of post-consumer products and packaging. The government does not directly organize collection and recycling activities; instead, it focuses on developing policies, setting environmental targets, managing data and overseeing implementation.

One of the most notable features of Germany’s EPR system is the central role played by Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs). These organizations act on behalf of businesses to organize collection systems, enter into contracts with recycling companies and ensure that collection and recycling targets are achieved in accordance with regulations. Allowing multiple PROs to operate simultaneously creates a competitive environment that improves operational efficiency and optimizes compliance costs for businesses.

German partners also emphasized that EPR should not be implemented separately from the municipal solid waste management system. Source segregation of waste, dedicated collection systems for different waste streams and well-developed recycling infrastructure are integrated to provide a stable supply of recyclable materials and enhance the overall effectiveness of EPR implementation.

Studying Norway’s experience in EPR, DRS and the circular economy

During its visit to Norway, the delegation met with environmental authorities, Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs), operators of beverage container deposit return systems, and businesses engaged in recycling and circular economy activities.

Through these discussions, the delegation learned that Norway regards EPR as one of its key policy instruments for implementing the “polluter pays” principle while encouraging businesses to take an active role in waste collection, recycling and the efficient use of resources. EPR is not treated as a standalone policy but is integrated into the country’s broader strategy for green growth, the circular economy and emissions reduction.

One of the distinguishing features of Norway’s EPR system is that PROs are established by businesses and operate on a non-profit basis. These organizations act on behalf of producers and importers to carry out the collection, transportation, sorting and recycling of waste streams falling under producers’ responsibility. Meanwhile, government authorities focus on policy development, setting environmental targets and monitoring compliance.

Through discussions with regulatory agencies and EPR organizations, the delegation observed that allowing businesses to take the lead in fulfilling their obligations helps mobilize social resources more effectively and reduces the administrative burden on the government. In waste management, Norway applies various waste-sorting solutions to minimize the amount of waste requiring disposal while maximizing the recovery of valuable materials. Large volumes of waste are collected from multiple cities and transported to centralized sorting facilities, where they are processed into materials and products that can be supplied to domestic recycling industries or even exported to neighboring countries for further recycling.

Norway also places strong emphasis on the use of economic instruments to promote eco-design and improve product recyclability. Financial mechanisms are structured to encourage businesses to use materials that are easier to recycle, increase recycled content in products and reduce reliance on materials that are difficult to process at the end of their life cycle.

A key point repeatedly emphasized by Norwegian counterparts was the close relationship between EPR, DRS, waste sorting throughout every stage of the waste management process, and the development of markets for recycled materials. These policies are designed as interconnected components of a unified system to keep materials in economic circulation for as long as possible, thereby reducing the extraction of virgin resources and minimizing environmental impacts.

Promoting Viet Nam–Norway cooperation on environment, green growth and the circular economy

As part of the working visit to Norway, on the morning of May 20, 2026, Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held meetings with Mr. Kristoffer Andre Hansen, State Secretary of the Ministry of Climate and Environment, and Ms. Astrid Bergmal, State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to discuss cooperation in the fields of environment, climate change, green growth and priorities for implementing the Viet Nam–Norway Green Strategic Partnership.

The meetings were attended by Mr. Dinh Nho Hung, Ambassador of Viet Nam to Norway; Mr. Ta Dinh Thi, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment; and representatives of relevant agencies from both sides.

The two sides also discussed priorities for implementing the Viet Nam–Norway Green Strategic Partnership in the coming period. Waste management, EPR, the circular economy, plastic pollution reduction, marine environmental protection and support for businesses’ green transition were identified as key areas of cooperation.

Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh proposed that Norway continue supporting Viet Nam with financial resources, technical expertise and specialist knowledge in areas where Norway has significant strengths, including EPR, DRS, waste management, the circular economy and marine environmental protection. The two sides agreed to assign their focal agencies to promptly coordinate the development of an Action Plan for implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on the Green Strategic Partnership for the 2026–2028 period.

During the visit, the Deputy Minister also visited the Norwegian branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and held a bilateral meeting with Mrs. Karoline Andaur, WWF-Norway’s Director. At the meeting, Mrs. Andaur expressed her satisfaction with the highly effective cooperation achieved with Viet Nam through the Hue – Plastic Smart City Project 2021–2025, which delivered impressive results. She also reaffirmed WWF Norway’s commitment to supporting Viet Nam’s efforts to address plastic pollution, particularly through EPR and DRS solutions.

An important foundation for refining policies in Viet Nam

The lessons learned during the working visit demonstrate that EPR can only achieve its full effectiveness when implemented within an integrated waste management system that involves the active participation of businesses, recycling facilities, consumers, and government authorities. In particular, linking EPR with source waste segregation, the development of recycled-material markets and circular economy policies is a critical factor determining the success of the system.

The outcomes of the meetings and exchanges in Germany and Norway will provide valuable practical insights for Viet Nam’s ongoing efforts to study and refine policies and legislation on environmental protection, waste management and EPR. They will also contribute to the effective implementation of the Viet Nam–Norway Green Strategic Partnership in the coming years.

The visit further reaffirmed Viet Nam’s commitment to promoting green growth, advancing the circular economy and strengthening international cooperation to address global environmental challenges, with the ultimate goal of achieving sustainable development and a low-emissions future.