Communications intensified to reduce use of plastic bags, single-use plastic products
The Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade and the Vietnam Business for Environment (VB4E) Alliance, held a consultation session with retailers on stepping up the implementation of a communication plan on reducing plastic bags.
Hanoi (VNA) - The Institute of Strategy and Policy on NaturalResources and Environment (ISPONRE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment, in collaboration with the Hanoi Department of Industry and Tradeand the Vietnam Business for Environment (VB4E) Alliance, held a consultationsession with retailers on stepping up the implementation of a communicationplan on reducing plastic bags.
ISPONRE Deputy Director Nguyen Trung Thang said that withthe aim of reducing the use of single-use plastic products at retailers, the instituteand the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade called for businesses to sign acommitment to join the alliance of retailers to reduce plastic bags andsingle-use plastic products.
As of July, 15 retailers had agreed to join thiscommitment. This is an activity within the framework of the “Rethinking Plastics- Circular Economy Solutions to Marine Litter” project funded by the EuropeanUnion and the German Government. Expertise France is the organisationthat will implement this project in Vietnam.
According to Thang, Vietnam uses about 104,000 single-use plastic bags per day,or 38 million plastic bags a year. Up to 46 out of 48 supermarkets areproviding plastic bags free of charge, and each supermarket consumes about 1,454 plasticbags a day on average.
Vietnam aims to use 100 percent of environmentally-friendlyplastic bags and packaging at shopping malls and supermarkets by 2025,according to a project on strengthening the management of plastic waste in Vietnamapproved by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh on July 22.
Other goals include to collect, reuse, recycle and treat 85percent of plastic waste; to halve the volume of plastic waste dumped to oceans; to have 100 percent of tourist complexes, hotels and other lodgingfacilities not use non-biodegradable plastic bags and single-use plasticproducts by 2025.
Additionally, the project will gradually cut the productionand consumption of non-biodegradable plastic bags and single-use plasticproducts in daily life; while raising awareness among organisations,enterprises and the community about the harmful effects of single-use plasticitems to the environment, ecosystem and human health, and encouraging consumersto shift away from single-use and non-biodegradable plastics to eco-friendlyalternatives./.
A representative from the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands under the Ministry of Planning and Environment has affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to participate in and contribute to regional and global initiatives aiming to reduce marine plastic waste.
A social network campaign called “Plastic-19 Lockdown Challenge” was launched by UNESCO and the Centre for Supporting Green Development (GreenHub) on October 15 to inspire the community to reduce the use of plastics.
Plastic waste has long been an alarming problem, Nguyen Dinh Tho, Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, stressed at a press conference on October 7 to launch an information portal and communications campaign “Joining hands to reduce plastic waste”.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
Single-use plastic products. (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn) 
