Six years of OPTOCE to turn plastic waste into circular economy opportunities

On October 3, the SINTEF Research Institute (Norway) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Viet Nam, in collaboration with the Viet Nam Cement Association (VNCA), held a workshop to summarize the Norwegian government-funded project "Ocean Plastic Turned into an Opportunity in Circular Economy" (OPTOCE).

Six-year journey of the OPTOCE project

In her opening remarks, H.E. Ms. Hilde Solbakken, Norwegian Ambassador to Viet Nam, emphasized: "Through the OPTOCE project, we have witnessed scientifically grounded solutions, such as co-processing, that can transform plastic waste into a resource benefiting the climate, the economy, and communities."

The OPTOCE project is part of Norway’s broader commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 14.1 - to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution by 2025. Since 2018, Norway has continued investing in development programs aimed at minimizing plastic and marine waste. For over 30 years, Norway has used two cement kilns to process hazardous organic waste, replacing more than 75% of coal with waste materials in the cement industry.

Norway considers tackling ocean plastic waste and climate change a top priority, both globally and in Viet Nam. "We are committed to scaling up this approach in Viet Nam and across the region, especially within the framework of Norway-Viet Nam JETP cooperation," the Ambassador affirmed.

According to Mr. Kåre Helge Karstensen, Head of Science and Director of the OPTOCE Program, the project was launched more than six years ago as a regional initiative, initially implemented in five countries, including Viet Nam, and later expanded to eight countries across Asia.

The project’s success has demonstrated that co-processing non-recyclable plastics in cement kilns is not only technically feasible and environmentally friendly but can also deliver rapid, large-scale impact. The next step is to integrate this solution into national policy frameworks to drive systemic change.

In reality, Viet Nam is facing a dual challenge: massive plastic waste and rising carbon emissions. Co-processing is recognized as a scalable solution that safely handles hard-to-recycle plastics in cement kilns, prevents plastic waste from entering the oceans, and substitutes fossil fuels (coal) in industrial production.

Compared to conventional incineration, co-processing prevents methane emissions and does not generate hazardous particles like fly ash. The extremely high temperatures in cement kilns completely break down toxic substances, while minerals are absorbed into the cement.

Policies paving the way for investment opportunities

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luong Duc Long, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Cement Association, emphasized: "Co-processing waste in cement kilns is the safest and most effective solution."

At the workshop, he expressed hope for greater collaboration with environmental enterprises to transform waste into alternative fuel. He also called on the government to soon clarify incentive policies so that participating businesses can benefit, and to support consulting organizations in transferring co-processing technology to companies. With joint efforts, this approach could be widely scaled, turning waste into “black gold” and cement plants into ideal co-processing facilities.

Building on the achievements of OPTOCE, delegates emphasized the importance of completing the policy framework, promoting innovative solutions and technologies, and developing investment-ready models.

The workshop featured numerous presentations and discussion sessions on the legal framework, waste potential, as well as the practices and challenges of co-processing implementation in Viet Nam. Presentations analyzed new technical standards, the current status of waste suitable for co-processing, barriers in the cement industry, and lessons learned from operational plants. Opportunities, challenges, and solutions for integrating co-processing into the Viet Nam National Strategy of Solid Waste Management were also discussed.

To address cross-border challenges such as ocean plastic pollution and climate change, the workshop concluded with a call to strengthen regional cooperation and enhance public-private partnerships, aiming to scale proven solutions across Asia.

This workshop follows a previous event on the same theme held in Bangkok, Thailand, in September as part of the OPTOC project, where regional stakeholders exchanged approaches to the circular economy that deliver positive environmental impacts while ensuring economic feasibility.