Page 230 - Ebook HTKH 2024

bacteria. More seriously, improper disposal of plastic bags contaminates soil and water,
directly and indirectly affecting human health.

Third, the rampant discharge of plastic waste into the ocean has caused a
phenomenon known as “white pollution,” severely affecting marine and aquatic species.
Nearly 300 marine species have been entangled in or have ingested plastic debris,
leading to cellular destruction, negatively impacting the digestive system, or causing
choking by blocking the airways. According to statistics, on average, each fish contains
about 2.1 pieces of microplastics. This is a major cause of mortality for many animal
species. The presence of microplastics in marine organisms is also a factor contributing
to the destruction or decline of biodiversity and altering the structure and composition

of marine ecosystems.
In addition, the production and consumption of e-commerce waste requires a
significant amount of resources and energy. This process consumes large quantities of
raw materials, water, and energy, contributing to deforestation, water pollution, and
increased emissions. Specifically, as follows:
The production of cardboard and paper requires a significant amount of raw

material, which is wood. Overexploitation of forests for raw materials disrupts the
ecosystem, reduces the area of green space that naturally filters the air, and shrinks the
natural habitat of various animal species. This also indirectly leads to erosion and
landslides.
The paper and cardboard production industry also generates a large amount of
wastewater. The wastewater from this sector is particularly hazardous as it contains
complex compounds including plastics, fatty acids, lignin, and the degradation products

of lignin, which are known for their high ecological toxicity, potential carcinogenicity,
and difficulty in breaking down in the environment.
It is evident that the harm caused by e-commerce waste is extremely serious,
affecting all organisms within our ecosystem; leading to the scarcity of raw materials
and energy, the destruction of natural environments, and the disruption of ecological
balance, resulting in devastating natural disasters, thereby negatively affecting green

economic growth.
3. Research results
3.1. Overview of e-commerce waste in Vietnam
Indeed, shopping through e-commerce platforms is now familiar to everyone and
has become a new trend in purchasing goods. According to research by Statista
(Germany), Vietnam's e-commerce sector ranked among the top 6 in the world’s largest
e-commerce markets in 2018. E-commerce in Vietnam has consistently recorded
extraordinary growth rates of 16-30% per year, with the market size projected to reach

$20.5 billion in 2023. In a research report by CBRE Vietnam, conducted through
feedback from approximately 1,000 people in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, 25% of
surveyed consumers plan to reduce the frequency of in-store shopping. Meanwhile, 45-
50% believe they will shop online via desktop/laptop or smartphone/tablet more
frequently in the future.

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