Digital Innovation for Plastics Circularity: Lessons from Indonesia and Viet Nam

The pervasive nature of plastic production and consumption is at the root of plastic pollution. Indonesia generates about 7.8 million tons of plastic waste annually, while Viet Nam produces up to 3.1 million tons. Only 6% (Indonesia) and 11% (Viet Nam) of these amounts are recycled.

Both countries face gaps in infrastructure and policy, low public awareness of plastic waste impacts, and fragmented data systems—hindering proper waste management. Informal waste workers are key to the value chain but lack social protection, financial support, and access to technology.

The pilot program is the third main activity under the ADB technical assistance, following the digital maturity levels assessments and screening of global and regional digital solutions. Indonesia and Viet Nam were identified as well-positioned to leverage digital technologies to strengthen the plastics value chain, increase awareness, improve skills and logistics, and enhance monitoring and reporting of plastic pollution.

Ten solutions were implemented under the project—five per country—based on three pillars: local needs, operational viability, and potential for scalability and sustainability. Understanding the local landscape was particularly critical for ensuring effectiveness of the solutions.

In Indonesia, community waste banks and cooperatives were engaged in waste collection and sorting to enhance access to markets. In Viet Nam, municipal authorities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh were key partners to align digital tools with official systems.

Despite differences in context and solutions, the project applied a consistent and replicable methodology. The evaluation focused not only on whether the apps increased recycling, but also on how the solutions drove results. The emphasis on the “how” is crucial for ensuring the solutions are effective, scalable, sustainable, and inclusive.

In Indonesia, the five solutions selected were: Duitin, a waste collection and recycling platform, EkoLogis, a recyclables marketplace for informal collectors, Alner, a reusable packaging and refill system, pLitter, an Al tool for monitoring litter, and a digital marketing approach for behavior change.

In Viet Nam, the five solutions chosen were: mGreen, a household recycling app with reward points; VECA, a platform connecting waste pickers, junk shops, and businesses; Grac, a web and mobile system for municipal waste services and an online recycling marketplace; pLitter, the same Al tool in Indonesia; and a digital marketing strategy to support these solutions.

The solutions addressed different segments of the plastics value chain and served different stakeholders through a mix of technologies and engagement approaches.

Several innovations emerged during the pilot:

• AI for litter detection. pLitter demonstrated the feasibility of low-cost automated monitoring of riverine plastic pollution, although local calibration and camera setups were needed to optimize performance.
• Digital inclusion of informal workers. VECA’s health insurance for waste pickers in Viet Nam and Ekologis’ community-based model in Indonesia showed how digital tools can enhance livelihoods and social protection.
• Incentive models. Offering incentives—such as health insurance, mGreen’s rewards points, and food during meetings—encouraged participation during the pilots. However, these are often best as short-term drivers and need to be paired with awareness campaigns and other measures to sustain interest for the long term.
• Behavioral nudges. Campaigns in West Java and Hue City achieved high engagement, with rates of up to 70% for video content in Viet Nam—demonstrating that low-cost efforts can effectively raise awareness and interest with user-generated content driving engagement. However, converting clicks into sustained action remains a challenge.
• Cybersecurity audits. Technical assessments revealed gaps—such as unencrypted personal data and lack of formal security policies—highlighting the need for strong digital governance before scaling.

The pilot activity demonstrated that plastic pollution can be tackled, if not resolved entirely, through digital innovation:

• Duitin and VECA streamlined waste collection, increased recyclable volumes, and improved record-keeping. Junk shops that used VECA reported a 15% increase in trading volume.
• Social media campaigns boosted awareness and app sign-ups and usage but sustaining the behavior requires continued messaging and engagement.
• Alner improved engagement, but similar refilling systems need to monitor their financial model to ensure profitability for all its stakeholders and increased patronage.

Pending adjustments, digital solutions showed strong local relevance, operational viability, and clear potential for scalability, alongside promising social impact.

In addition to the results, the project identified recommendations based on the methodology used to help countries shift from “business as usual” to more adaptive approaches that maximize user adoption and positive outcomes.

1. User-centric design is crucial. Simplified interfaces, offline functionality, mobile-first development, and local language support are essential for adoption, especially among informal workers. Integrating user education also helps build confidence with the technology.
2. Inclusion must be intentional. Digital tools must be designed with women and marginalized groups in mind. Engaging local champions and authorities early builds trust and encourages participation. Training, social benefits, and community engagement can further strengthen adoption.
3. Scalability requires planning. Pilots should include scale-up modeling to anticipate infrastructure, training, and funding needs. Cross-learning among solution providers and iterative feedback loops can enhance design and implementation.
4. Blend tech and human touch. Combining apps with community meetings and social media proved powerful. A hybrid approach, such as launching a recycling app with on-the-ground champions, can maximize behavior change.
5. Cybersecurity is non-negotiable. Data protection must be prioritized from the start and reinforced before scaling up to patch vulnerabilities, improve trust, and comply with regulations.
6. Financial viability drives sustainability. Solutions should offer clear economic value—through cost savings, new revenue streams, or incentives. Tapping into government support and Extended Producer Responsibility programs can help sustain operations.
7. Bridge the pilot to policy. Pilot results should inform supportive policies and funding. Alignment with national regulations (e.g., Viet Nam’s waste separation laws) accelerates adoption. Governments should also formalize informal sectors and integrate digital tools into national systems (e.g., Indonesia’s national waste data system or SIPSN).

A. Oposa and J. Baker. 2024. Strengthening Regional Cooperation for Marine Litter Management in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam: Policy Analysis and Opportunities. ADB Briefs. No. 321. Asian Development Bank.

Asian Development Bank. 2025. Prioritizing and Implementing Actions to Reduce Marine Plastic Pollution: Consolidated Proof of Concept Report Testing Digital Solutions for Plastics Circularity in Indonesia and Viet Nam. Consultant’s report (TA 6669-REG).

V. Aloysius et al. 2025. Transforming the Plastics Value Chain: Introducing a Digital Maturity Assessment Tool. ADB Briefs. No. 351. ADB.