Printing, packaging firms face pressure to accelerate green transition
Vietnam's printing and packaging industry faces growing pressure to modernize as global buyers demand safer, recyclable and greener products, while nearly 80 percent of domestic firms still rely on conventional technology.
Vietnam's printing and packaging sector is facing mounting pressure to expedite its green transition, as global purchasers seek safer, recyclable, and greener products. At the 24th VietnamPrintPack 2026 exhibition, held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center in Ho Chi Minh City from September 16, nearly 300 exhibitors from 13 countries and territories gathered to address this pressing issue.
Nguyen Van Dung, Chairman of the Vietnam Printing Association, revealed that domestic companies' average production costs are approximately 15 percent higher than foreign-invested enterprises. Moreover, nearly 80 percent of local firms still rely on conventional technology. This technology gap has widened as foreign printing companies continue to invest in Vietnam, backed by stronger capital resources, advanced equipment, and established customer networks.
To retain orders and elevate their position in global supply chains, Vietnamese printing and packaging companies must upgrade their technology, adopt new materials, and improve production processes. Tran Viet Anh, Chairman of the Vietnam Waste Recycling Association, emphasized the complexity of the industry's green transition, as printing products often combine paper, polymers, metals, inks, solvents, and adhesives.
These multi-material structures make post-consumer recycling more challenging, and food packaging must also comply with stringent material safety standards. The primary obstacle is that most domestic printing companies are small and medium-sized enterprises with limited financial capacity to invest in new machinery, technology, and sustainable materials.
VietnamPrintPack 2026, organized in collaboration with the Vietnam Printing Association, showcased digital printing, automation, label printing, RFID-enabled smart packaging, post-printing equipment, and innovative materials. Notable solutions attracting attention include water-based inks, environmentally friendly materials, next-generation films, and RFID applications for product traceability and supply chain management.
Written by urgent.news from SGGP English Edition Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
