Hanoi aims to create supermarket coalition to reduce single-use plastic bags
Hanoi is working on the formation and operation of a supermarket coalition to minimise plastic shopping bags, thus cutting plastic waste and protecting the environment.
Co.opmart supermarket encourages consumers to use environmentally-friendly bags (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoi is working on theformation and operation of a supermarket coalition to minimise plasticshopping bags, thus cutting plastic waste and protecting the environment.
The effort is part of an initiative conducted with supportfrom the EU and the German Government.
According to Fanny Quertamp from Expertise France, theproject is a chance for Vietnam to take specific action to cut plastic waste,and she expressed her hope that the project will receive the active engagement ofsupermarkets around the country.
According to a representative from Lotte Mart Ba Dinh,foreign customers strongly support the scheme and are willing to pay forenvironmentally-friendly shopping bags. Many Vietnamese customers, however, arenot happy, so stronger communication campaigns are needed to raise public awareness.
A BigC representative said the scheme should be introducedat all supermarkets to ensure fairness and proposed legal regulations on reductions to plastic waste and single-use plastic bags.
In order to minimise the use of such bags, the HanoiDepartment of Industry and Trade held a working session with the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment at the Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment.
According to the department,140 out of 170 supermarkets and trade centres in Hanoi have switched from plasticshopping bags to bio-degradable bags and multi-use shopping bags.
The majority of facilities usefood packaging materials made of bagasse and natural materials.
Meanwhile, many retail anddistribution businesses have offered promotions to customers who use their ownshopping bags.
The VinCommerce GeneralCommercial Service JSC, the owner of VinMart and VinMart , has been among thepioneers in encouraging green shopping habits by implementing the “Three green”programme - Green VinMart, Green Customers, and Green Suppliers - to protectthe environment. It has 2,200 retail points around the country, including 850 inHanoi.
Environmental experts,however, said the habit of using plastic bags continues among a large number ofshoppers, especially at traditional markets./.
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Co.opmart supermarket encourages consumers to use environmentally-friendly bags (Photo: VNA) 
