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| Each year, Vietnam releases 1.8 million tons of plastic waste into the environment. Photo: VGP |
On average, Vietnam releases about 1.8 million tons of plastic waste into the environment each year. In the National Action Plan on Ocean Plastic Waste Management, the Government has set a target of reducing by 75% plastic waste released into the ocean by 2030. This is very significant not only for the environment, but also for the collection, classification and recycling of plastic waste, which is the basis for promoting the circular economic model - one of the factors contributing to building a green economy.
To achieve this goal, it is necessary to build a plastic waste collection infrastructure system which, in addition to policies, consumer awareness and behavior, plays a very important role. This is also the goal that many businesses and organizations are striving to implement programs and events so that consumers can access and participate in collecting and recycling activities, thereby raising awareness of environmental protection and reducing plastic waste.
Equipping trash bins to sort and collect old batteries, investing in machines to collect and process plastic bottles and aluminum cans, or changing from nylon packaging to completely paper bags are all are activities that have been and are being implemented by many supermarket systems with the aim of raising awareness and changing users' behavior towards plastic waste.
A supermarket representative said that at the beginning of the implementation, not all customers agreed with the initiatives. For example, when having to pay for paper bags instead of free single-use plastic bags, 50% of customers are not satisfied. However, with the business's efforts to advise and persuade, more and more customers are responding to the program.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Cuong, Manager of AnNam Gourmet supermarket chain, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, said: "We also hope that through efforts and perseverance, customers' shopping habits, thoughts and awareness will gradually change.”
After five years of implementation, the above supermarket has collected and processed five tons of old batteries, nearly 17,000 plastic bottles, glass bottles and aluminum cans, and prevented the use of more than nine million plastic bags, protecting the environment.
Milk cartons can be recycled very effectively if collected properly. Instead of being thrown into the trash, they will be folded and put in separate trash bags. And to form this habit, it requires communication programs to raise awareness and change consumer behavior, in which young students and children are regular consumers of milk.
At some kindergartens and primary schools in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province. After using milk cartons, teachers instruct students on how to handle them. After being put in separate bins, the collection unit will come to collect them and bring them to the factory for re-pressing. This process both reduces environmental impact and saves recycling costs.
This is a program that PRO Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance is coordinating with local Departments of Education and Training and recycling collection units to raise awareness about waste classification and recycling for students - the future generation of consumers.
Ms. Chu Thi Kim Thanh, Operations Director of PRO Vietnam Packaging Recycling Joint Stock Company, said: "For the chain of activities at schools, we will build awareness for children, guide children and teachers on how to collect most effectively. We connect with collection partners, recycling partners to truly create a cycle and we hope this will be truly sustainable.”
The representative of the collection unit in this campaign, Tobito Company. said that the unit has currently deployed the distribution of bags and tarpaulins at nearly 100 kindergartens and primary schools, to collect until the end of the 2024 - 2025 school year.
"After two years of implementation, the growth rate is quite good, the awareness of environmental protection in the education sector is good and schools are working with us quite effectively,” said Mr. Le Xuan Cuong, General Director, Tobito Joint Stock Company.
According to experts, regulations on extended producer responsibility implementing EPR have been applied since the beginning of this year 2024. By the beginning of 2025, waste classification at source in localities nationwide will also be mandatory. Therefore, this is the right time to implement programs to raise consumer awareness, as well as business responsibility.
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| Photo: Hanoi residents actively participate in recycling collection activities. Photo: HNM. |
Implementing a large campaign to reduce the amount of plastic waste released into the environment sometimes also needs to start with the smallest behaviors. For example, changing the habit of using plastic bags, instead using glass bottles, or prioritizing buying products in paper boxes instead of plastic boxes. With these behaviors, each consumer can join hands to protect the environment, reduce plastic waste and build the economy./.