The global secondary packaging market (outer corrugated boxes, external paper shipping packaging) stands at a historic turning point. A strategic report from Smithers forecasts that the industry is heading toward a massive milestone: reaching £224 billion by 2030.

In Vietnam, this wave is no longer a distant future narrative but has manifested as an active goal in 2026 – the pivotal year for implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Facing rigorous market criteria, selecting a paper packaging partner with high circular capacity is the ultimate key to survival for enterprises.

At the 7th Annual Conference of the Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam) themed “Building a Robust Circular Packaging System Through Science and Technology” held on June 12, Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc Trai, Chairman of PRO Vietnam, assessed that 2026 is regarded as a milestone turning point for the EPR implementation process in Vietnam. The market is witnessing an unprecedentedly fierce green transition race.

Accordingly, as of the end of May 2026, the total volume of officially registered, authorized, and approved packaging nationwide reached over 60,000 tons, of which more than 30,000 tons have been formally deployed for actual collection and recycling. It is projected that the EPR implementation scale for the entirety of 2026 will increase by approximately 90% compared to 2025.

Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc Trai, Chairman of PRO Vietnam, believes that the circular economy has become an important component of the new growth model. Photo: Ha Duyen/Vietnam Agriculture News

The expanding volume of collected and recycled packaging demonstrates that EPR implementation is stepping forward, while concurrently imposing higher requirements on collection and recycling infrastructures. Enterprises can no longer continue utilizing non-biodegradable plastic packaging and shrink wraps if they wish to avoid exorbitant environmental taxes and fees. The simultaneous transition toward easily recyclable, eco-friendly paper boxes and corrugated packaging is becoming an obligatory wave globally and within Vietnam.

Alongside volume pressures, the packaging industry’s “green game” is entering a more rigorous new chapter. “The success of EPR in the coming phase is not only measured by the quantity of recycled packaging but also hinges on the capability of data control, traceability, cost management, and the transparency level of the entire system”, the Chairman of PRO Vietnam emphasized at the conference.

This implies that compliant corrugated packaging cannot merely be labeled “eco-friendly” based on sentiment; instead, manufacturing enterprises must prove via digital data: What is the origin of the wood fibers? Does the factory’s operational workflow emit within ISO-compliant standards? Is the material flow 100% circularly recyclable? This is a technological equation requiring serious and synchronized system investments—a major challenge for any business slow to transition, but a breakthrough launching pad for units that have proactively stayed one step ahead.

Ngoc Diep Packaging resolves the “green equation” for enterprises

As Asia breaks out to become a major consumption and manufacturing market globally, Vietnam has become one of the epicenters of this migration. Amidst this rigorous wave, Ngoc Diep Packaging asserts its position as a market-leading, large-scale manufacturer. Our supply chain autonomy empowers large corporations to radically solve the green equation through a comprehensive system of solutions.

Ngoc Diep Packaging currently operates a 40,000 m² packaging manufacturing facility – the largest in Northern Vietnam. Backed by synchronous automated technology lines, Ngoc Diep Packaging eliminates raw material supply chain disruptions amidst global transportation volatility, ensuring continuous manufacturing schedules for major domestic and international partners.

To fundamentally address the material data transparency challenges raised by PRO Vietnam, Ngoc Diep Packaging pioneered management system standardization very early on. The enterprise has secured rigorous international certifications, including FSC-CoC (Chain of Custody management from legal plantation forest sources) and ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System).

All of Ngoc Diep’s corrugated packaging products utilize paper raw materials with high recycling rates, backed by 100% transparency in the clean wood fiber supply chain. This proactivity allows our partners’ commodities to automatically bypass domestic EPR hurdles and seamlessly overcome technical barriers to enter the US and EU markets.

The pivotal EPR year of 2026 and the macroeconomic milestone of 2030 are placing the paper packaging industry before a new chapter: one where science, technology, and data transparency dominate the game. Partnering with entities possessing green execution capabilities like Ngoc Diep Packaging empowers enterprises to proactively adapt to macroeconomic changes while successfully materializing their sustainable development roadmaps.