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IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE E-COMMERCE ON GREEN ECONOMIC

DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM

Pham Van Tuan 140 , Vu Thi Viet Thanh 141 , Nguyen Tien Loi 142 , Pham Minh Hieu
143

Abstract: In the era of Industry 4.0, with the rapid development of science and technology,
e-commerce is becoming an extremely important sector for economic growth. E-commerce helps
connect businesses with customers, businesses with businesses, governments with businesses, and
nations with each other. E-commerce is gradually moving towards selective investments and optimizing
costs to achieve sustainable development goals in response to changes in both the Vietnamese and
global economies. Although e-commerce brings significant benefits, it also raises concerns, particularly
regarding its environmental impact and sustainable growth. This paper examines the effects of e-
commerce on the environment. Additionally, it identifies the opportunities and challenges in the current
context by integrating sustainable e-commerce activities with environmental protection and green
economy strategies. Based on this analysis, the paper proposes future development directions for
sustainable e-commerce, aiming to enhance policy improvement, ensure the development of green
technology and commerce, and align with the Government’s green economic strategy.
Keywords: impact, sustainable e-commerce, green economy

1. Introduction
Currently, the field of e-commerce is experiencing significant breakthroughs in

growth and robust technological development, truly becoming a pioneering sector of
Vietnam's economy. According to a report by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the
size of the retail e-commerce market in Vietnam is expected to reach 16.4 billion USD
in 2022, accounting for 7.5% of the country's consumer goods and services revenue. It
is estimated that nearly 60 million Vietnamese people participated in online shopping,
with an average spending per person of 260 - 285 USD in 2022. The development of e-
commerce not only brings positive impacts to our national economy but also accelerates

the pace of economic growth across various provinces, especially in major cities like
Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
However, alongside these development opportunities, the e-commerce industry
also faces several challenges, particularly in establishing a healthy and sustainable
e-commerce market.
Currently, waste generated from online shopping is seven times higher than waste

generated from in-store shopping. Careful packaging to prevent goods from damage
during transportation has led to excessive use of packaging materials. Goods are often
wrapped in two or three layers of paper and plastic, and sometimes cushioned with foam
before being placed in boxes. In 2023, online retail used 1.84 billion packages,
corresponding to 306,000 tons of packaging and plastic materials. Among

140 Hanoi Open University, Email: tuanpv.kt@hou.edu.vn
141 Hanoi Open University
142 Hanoi Open University
143 Student at National Economics University

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