Ministry, packaging industry join hands to handle plastic waste

Hanoi (VNA) –The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and the Packaging Recycling Organisation Vietnam (Pro Vietnam) inked a deal in Hanoi on September 11 on joint efforts to reduce plastic waste.

Under the deal, the sides will work together to support activities for waste reduction and sorting at sources, as well as to boost the capacity and effectiveness of the system for collecting, transporting and recycling waste.

They aim to enhance responsibilities of producers, brand owners, distributors, retailers both modern and traditional, and exporters in their management of after-consumption waste and recycling work.

The cooperation also targets forming a recycling industry, assisting products made from recycled materials, and raising public awareness on the matter.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha lauded Pro Vietnam’s proactive approach in sharing responsibilities to deal with the waste issue, particularly plastic waste in the packaging industry. 

Enterprises contribute to such problem but they can also be part of the solution, he stated.

Chairman of Pro Vietnam Pham Phu Ngoc Trai said the organisation aims to collect all packaging used by its members in the market by 2030.

It will build a system to collect these packaging materials based on cooperation with local-level authorities and relevant sides within the sector, he added.

Vietnam is one of the five countries throwing the most plastic waste into oceans, according to international organisations.

The MONRE estimated that about 80 tonnes of plastic waste and bags are thrown away every day in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City combined.

On June 21, Pro Vietnam was established with the participation of nine major companies such as TH Group, Cola Cola, La Vie, Nestle and Nutifood. Between now and later this year, 30 others will join its plastic waste recycling scheme./.