Greening Food Processing Industries in Vietnam: Opportunities and Constraints

Abstract

Abstract. The food processing sector in Vietnam plays a vital role in its economic development, but its rapid growth seems to go hand-in-hand with environmental deterioration. Several decades of applying the conventional end-of-pipe approach made clear that it only deals with treating the symptoms. It is necessary to combine technological (end-of-pipe) solutions to overcome urgent pollution problems with ways to prevent wastes from being generated or to reuse their valuable material. This article presents a methodology for analyzing the possibilities for waste prevention in food processing industry in Vietnam.

Energy intensities and the impact of high energy prices on producing and consuming sectors in Malaysia

“…As is apparent, there are a number of food processing industries among the top 10. This stresses the importance in Malaysia of reducing energy use in these sectors, similar to the Vietnamese case (Dieu, 2006). The measure of energy input is obtained by adding energy commodities in value terms.…”

A comparison of energy use, water use and carbon footprint of cassava starch production in Thailand, Vietnam and Colombia

“…In Thailand, lagoons have been replaced with biogas generation systems (Chavalparit and Ongwandee, 2009), such as covered lagoons or more advanced anaerobic fermentation tanks, such as anaerobic fixed-film reactors (AFFR) or up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket systems (UASB). Both lagoons and biogas production enable a 90-99% reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD), from an initial concentration of 20,000-41,000 mg/L (Tran Thi My Dieu, 2003;Mai, 2006;Sriroth et al, 2000a). In addition, biogas systems reduce the surface of land needed for water treatment, and provide between 70 and 100% of the starch factory energy needs (Plevin and Donnelly, 2004).…”

“…In addition, biogas systems reduce the surface of land needed for water treatment, and provide between 70 and 100% of the starch factory energy needs (Plevin and Donnelly, 2004). At small and medium scale, wastewater management practices are still scarce, and wastewater, with COD levels in the range 4800-13,500 mg/L, is often discharged directly in the surrounding river or canal system, resulting in significant levels of pollution (Colin et al, 2007;Da, 2008;Tran Thi My Dieu, 2003). Different factors underlie this situation: small factory operators may not be able to afford the investment required to build water treatment facilities (Peters et al, 2000;Peters, 2005), while the lack of land availability, due to high population density (Hanoi region, Vietnam) or mountainous area (Cauca department, Colombia), also restricts investments.…”

“…The peels may be used as fuel for the factory boiler, after sun-drying and grinding. The bagasse and mancha are typically used for the animal feed industry, since up to 60% of the dry weight is made of starch (Tran Thi My Dieu, 2003;Sriroth et al, 2000b). When no utilization outlet is available, the by-products are stored in heaps and landfilled.…”

Techno policy aspects and socio-economic impacts of eco-industrial networking in the fishery sector: experiences from An Giang Province, Vietnam

“…Articles 1 and 14 of the LEP, at a broader scope, mention the requirement to ensure ecological balance during exploiting agricultural, forest, and aquaculture and carrying out environmental protection activities as well. Ideas of industrial ecology and ecological modernization have not appeared in any legislative environmental documents promulgated by Vietnamese National Assembly, Government, MOSTE or other ministries yet [5].…”