Lifestyle

The Second-hand Success Story: Norway’s Secrets for Vietnam’s Future Triumph

With an impressive plastic waste recycling rate of 97 percent, Norway has successfully instilled a strong sense of environmental responsibility among its people and businesses. This is a remarkable achievement that Vietnam, currently ranked among the top 20 largest waste producers worldwide, could greatly benefit from emulating.

Administrator

16 January, 2025

The purchase of pre-owned items is a common practice in Norway, and it has been further encouraged by the Second-Hand Trade Act of 1999, which has played a significant role in reducing environmental impact by diverting used goods from landfills and into the retail market.

Promoting Sustainability through Legal Reform

Recognizing the need to adapt, Norway amended the Second-Hand Trade Act by relaxing certain regulations. This move aimed to boost the country’s circular economy and encourage entrepreneurship among its citizens.

However, despite a subsequent amendment in 2015, the act faced criticism for creating obstacles for businesses dealing in second-hand goods, including clothing, furniture, electronics, and sports equipment.

These concerns led to the most recent revisions of the act, which came into effect on July 1, 2024. The updates addressed the growing environmental challenges associated with textile production and consumption, as evidenced by the significant import of clothing and footwear into Norway, totaling 88,233 metric tons in 2022 alone.

The previous version of the act imposed stringent requirements on second-hand stores, including mandatory police procedures, meticulous record-keeping, and a two-week holding period for goods before resale or reuse.

With the latest revisions, these constraints have been lifted for most pre-owned items, except for specific categories such as vehicles, cultural artifacts, and precious stones and metals, which still require regulated handling.

Cecilie Myrseth, Norway’s Minister of Trade and Industry, commended the recent changes, expressing her satisfaction with the positive impact on both the environment and the budgets of consumers who favor second-hand purchases.

Transforming Waste into Resources

Norway’s progressive updates to the Second-Hand Trade Act reflect its commitment to its citizens and the environment. This evolution has been underpinned by creating an inclusive framework that encourages participation from all sectors in implementing the act.

In an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Norwegian Ambassador Solbakken shed light on Norway’s success in waste management. According to the ambassador, the country has achieved remarkable progress by ensuring that almost all types of waste can be recycled.

Household waste, including organic matter, food scraps, and plastic waste, is sorted at the source by residents before collection by city authorities. This sorted waste is then processed to extract valuable resources.

During the decomposition process, methane gas is captured and used as an alternative fuel for buses, reducing their reliance on diesel. Additionally, the resulting carbon dioxide can be harnessed to enhance crop growth.

The remaining waste stream can be converted into organic fertilizer, benefiting the agricultural sector. Ambassador Solbakken also highlighted that electronic waste, such as old TVs and vacuum cleaners, is no longer a burden, as it can be entirely recycled.

For instance, a single mobile phone can contain up to 60 different minerals, all of which can be reused. As a result, mobile phone stores in Norway are mandated to collect old devices from consumers for recycling purposes.

Norway is a frontrunner in addressing plastic waste, with a recycling rate of 97% in 2020, and the country continues to strive for further improvements.

Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam, Hilde Solbakken, emphasizes the importance of waste recycling in Norway during an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi Tre

Norway’s Circular Economy Action Plan focuses on minimizing the use of new natural resources in production, prioritizing reuse and recycling to reduce waste generation.

To incentivize businesses to embrace greener and more sustainable practices, the Norwegian government employs a combination of incentives and regulations, as explained by Ambassador Solbakken. The ‘polluter pays’ principle holds businesses accountable for the environmental impact of their products throughout their life cycles, encouraging them to design reusable and easily recyclable products.

The ambassador further highlighted the negative consequences of plastic production, including greenhouse gas emissions and the consumption of crude oil resources. As a result, Norway is encouraging companies to adopt plastic production methods that reduce natural resource consumption, create reusable products, and facilitate recycling through simplified chemical components.

Ambassador Solbakken emphasized the importance of supporting individuals and businesses in fulfilling their environmental obligations. Close collaboration between the government, industries, academic institutions, and research centers is key to addressing challenges and driving innovation in Norway.

The Norwegian government fosters an inclusive decision-making process by encouraging stakeholders to provide feedback, share scientific data, and propose amendments to regulations.

Adopting the Norwegian Model in Vietnam

Vietnam can greatly benefit from emulating Norway’s approach to waste management and recycling. According to Phan Xuan Thuy, deputy head of the Central Commission for Information and Education, Vietnam generates approximately 60,000 metric tons of household waste daily, with urban areas being the primary contributors.

Thuy further emphasized that Vietnam is among the top 20 countries in terms of annual waste volume, and the indiscriminate production and disposal of plastic waste exacerbate the problem. This situation hinders the ability of functional units to effectively clean and recycle waste.

Solid waste management is a critical environmental concern, with an estimated average growth rate of 6% per year from 2021 to 2030. Additionally, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reports that about 64% of household waste in Vietnam is disposed of through burial, and only around 20% is buried hygienically.