Hanoi (VNA)🙈 - With a message of "Less plastic bags, more sprouts", on July 3 morning, leading retailers such as TH true mart, Central Retail, MM Mega Market Vietnam, AEON Vietnam and Lotte Mart Vietnam encouraged customers to change their consumption habits by not using in store plastic bags.

This activity is part of events to support No Plastic Bag Day in Vietnam in 2023, in order to raise public awareness about harmful effects of plastic waste and encourage consumers to participate in environmental protection through small daily actions and habits, towards a sustainable green lifestyle.

Responsibility hallmarks of manufacturers

TH Group is a leading enterprise in terms of sustainable production and business. Its projects always adhere to the principle of “Cherish Mother Nature” with a commitment to minimise negative impact on the environment. Hoang Thi Thanh Thuy, head of the Coordination Board of the Sustainable Development Committee of TH Group, emphasised that in the past 15 years, TH has persistently implemented its sustainable development strategy in its production and business activities, and the environment is a key pillar of that strategy. Specifically, TH has implemented a series of solutions such as replacing plastic bags, spoons, and straws from single-use plastic with eco-friendly bio-plastic and has cut down on plastic use by reducing plastic weight on each product. The group has also removed bottle shrink wrap on all True water products. The total amount of plastic that TH has reduced from this effort amounts to about 40 tonnes per year. Currently, AEON Vietnam has "green" initiatives such as Greenline - a priority cashier desk for customers who refuse to use plastic bags, or using products from environmentally friendly materials such as: paper cups, and trays and bowls made of bagasse at the cuisine area. At all AEON supermarkets nationwide, 100% of shopping bags for customers are biodegradable nylon bags. Central Retail has successfully piloted "Non-plastic bag day" and "Bring your own bag to the market" programmes at Tops Market supermarkets nationwide with an aim to stop supplying plastic bags.

Building a sense of sustainable consumption

In 2023, in response to the International Plastic Bag Free Day, TH True Mart and retailers have organised gift-giving activities, and many direct and online communication activities to raise consumer awareness to reduce the use of plastic products. Thuy said that the implementation of initiatives to not use plastic bags is not an easy task and sometimes faces challenges. However, the difficulties also make TH seek out creative solutions and develop environmentally friendly products. Among them, the use of bio-plastic bags is a way to minimise the negative impact on the environment because they are biodegradable. In addition, TH also encourages consumers to switch to using canvas bags instead of nylon bags. Nguyen Thi Dieu Thuy, Director of World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF Vietnam)'s Plastic Waste Reduction Programme, said that Vietnam is actively promoting the building of a circular economy in plastic waste management, in which the business sector plays a very important role. “With the participation of manufacturers and retailers, I hope this year's No Use Plastic Bag Day in Vietnam will receive positive attention and support from consumers. Only by working together can we move toward sustainable consumption and eliminate the plastic pollution crisis in a comprehensive way,” said Thuy./.