SIG Expands "Recycle for Good" School Milk Carton Recycling Program to Vietnam
The choice of location is directly tied to the dairy sector: Bac Ninh, an industrial hub of Northern Vietnam, is the site of a major school milk program launched in 2025 and planned to run until at least 2030. More than one million students are expected to take part — meaning the region generates a significant volume of used aseptic carton packaging for milk, which is now set to be given a second life.
Under "Recycle for Good," cartons collected at schools will be sent to a paper mill, where the fiber will go into the production of recycled paper products. The separated polyaluminum layer (PolyAl) will be processed at the plant of SIG's partner, Lagom, into clothing hangers, flowerpots, and building panels. Alongside Lagom, which is responsible for waste management, the Bac Ninh Province Department of Education and Training is a partner in the project.
The program was first launched in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2023 and is now expanding to additional markets where SIG operates. Its expansion to Vietnam comes at a time when waste management is becoming an increasingly pressing challenge for the country: rapid urbanization and rising consumption are driving up volumes of waste, much of which is currently sent to landfills or burned in the open, amid low public awareness of recycling. By making collection practical and visible precisely where long-term habits are formed, SIG aims to close this gap.
"At the SIG Foundation, we work with partners to advance initiatives that strengthen communities and support positive environmental impact," said Holger Dickers, Managing Director of the SIG Foundation. "With Recycle for Good now starting in Vietnam, we are giving young people the opportunity to recognize the value of collecting and returning used beverage cartons for recycling — a simple action capable of inspiring long-term behavioral change."
Nicolas Tan Yuan Hsing, Head of Markets Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines at SIG, added that students not only benefit themselves but also become advocates for recycling among their families and friends.
On the part of the project operator, Le Trung Thong, Director of Lagom, and Do Thanh Vinh, Lagom Project Manager at the Bac Ninh Province Department of Education and Training, emphasized that working together will make it possible to take important steps toward promoting recycling and a more sustainable lifestyle.
Founded in 1853 and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, SIG is headquartered in Neuhausen, Switzerland, and employs approximately 9,700 people across more than 100 countries. In 2025, the company produced around 54 billion packs and generated €3.2 billion in revenue.
