Factors affecting the choice to use green packaging in food processing enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Abstract

Vietnam’s food and beverage (F&B) enterprises in the industry are expanding rapidly, creating both economic growth and environmental pressures due to the increasing amount of packaging waste. This situation is forcing companies to switch to environmentally friendly packaging, especially in large cities such as Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). This study aims to identify and quantify the determinants influencing enterprises’ decisions to adopt green packaging, providing evidence for sustainable industrial transformation. Using a mixed-method approach, the research collected and analyzed 165 valid survey responses from managers and experts in food processing firms. Reliability and factor analyses confirmed the robustness of the measurement scales, while multiple regression identified five significant determinants: environmental assurance, producer awareness, legal policies, technical and technological requirements, and the cost of production and pricing. Among these, environmental assurance and producer awareness exerted the strongest influence, indicating that social and environmental pressures outweigh purely economic or technical concerns. Based on the analysis, the study proposed changes in technology and materials to produce green packaging, as well as raising awareness among F&B enterprises and consumers about legal policies related to packaging to protect the environment. This research offers managerial and policy implications for promoting sustainable packaging practices and supports the development of strategies that align industrial competitiveness with environmental responsibility in Vietnam’s food processing sector. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the behavioral and institutional drivers behind the adoption of green packaging in an emerging economy.