Plastics network leverages innovation to tackle single-use pollution
Innovative ways to reduce plastics pollution took center stage at the Plastic Innovation Hub Vietnam (Hub Vietnam) Demo Day 2023 held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 27.
Australian Consul General in HCM City Sarah Hooper speaks at the event. (Photo courtesy of Australian Embassy in Vietnam)
HCM City (VNA) – Innovative ways to reduce plasticsa pollution took center stage at the Plastic Innovation Hub Vietnam (Hub Vietnam) Demo Day 2023held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 27.
The innovations were the outcome of the eight-week training programme from the Indo-Pacific PlasticsInnovation Network (IPPIN).
Australian Consul General in HCM City Sarah Hooper said that IPPIN isan important programme in the region, which helps promote innovation to reduceplastics pollution and mitigate the impact of climate change.
Both Vietnam and Australia face formidable challenges of climate changeand the environment, with critical impacts on food security and the economy’sprosperity, she said, highlighting cooperation between science agencies andthe private sector as significant to bring about practical measures.
Meanwhile, Dr Kim Wimbush, senior advisor at Australia’s CommonwealthScientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Vietnam, said thatthe event created opportunities for stakeholders to enhance connectivity in theinnovation ecosystem, while honouring the startup skills of local innovators.
He said that IPPIN’s programmes aim at improving capacity of the local innovationecosystem by connecting innovators, researchers, the Government and industriesto take action in the chronic and ongoing fight against plastics pollution.
Vietnam wants to introduce a ban on single-use plastic products by 2031, he added, pointing out that it is events like the Demo Day that support this initiative.
An estimated 3.1 milliontonnes of plastic waste is dumped on land in Vietnam each year, and at least 10%of this ends up in the ocean.
According to the National Plastics Action Partnership Programme inVietnam, the amount of plastic leaking into rivers and seas could double by2030 if current waste collection, recycling and treatment processes are notimplemented.
The Plastic Innovation Hub Vietnam, part of the Mekong InnovationAlliance, is committed to changing these statistics to create a cleaner, moreprosperous future for all./.
The Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) agreed to take urgent actions to deal with plastic pollution and challenges to marine and coastal ecological systems after four days of working at their 25th Intergovernmental Meeting Part Two from October 10-14.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang attended a high-level event on ending plastic pollution in Paris on May 27, which drew representatives from nearly 200 countries and territories.
Vietnam needs to improve and change industrial production processes towards a circular economy model, in order to minimise plastic waste, according to experts.
As an active and responsible member of the Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA), at the regional level, Vietnam strongly supports the negotiations on a global treaty on plastic pollution, an official said on July 26.
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.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
In 2005, Nghe An had 570 captive bears, the largest number in Vietnam. Thanks to efforts by local authorities, forest rangers, and rescue forces, the number has fallen to just 15.
Australian Consul General in HCM City Sarah Hooper speaks at the event. (Photo courtesy of Australian Embassy in Vietnam) 
