Shoppers at AEON Mall Ha Dong are told about measures to reduce plastic use. (Photo: kinhtedothi.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – A campaign promoting smart consumption and plastic waste reduction was launched at AEON Mall Ha Dong in Hanoi on January 24.
The programme was co-organised by the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE), World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam), and other partners including AEON Vietnam.
At the launch ceremony, ISPONRE Deputy Director Nguyen Trung Thang said the campaign aimed at mobilising widespread consumer participation in adopting measures to reduce plastic waste while shopping. The initiative seeks to shift consumer behaviour towards environmentally-friendly consumption, especially in the period leading up to the Lunar New Year holiday (called Tet in Vietnamese).
According to Thang, during festive occasions like Tet, the volume of goods consumed often experiences a 15-30% increase, accompanied by a rise in the amount of single-use plastic products.
With the campaign taking place on January 24 and 25, customers are set to engage in various activities as part of the campaign and try out recycled and environmentally-friendly items with high applicability in daily life.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, plastic waste pollution in Vietnam is alarmingly severe. On an annual average, the country disposes of approximately 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste, including over 30 billion plastic bags, of which 80% are discarded after just a single use./.
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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.
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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.
Shoppers at AEON Mall Ha Dong are told about measures to reduce plastic use. (Photo: kinhtedothi.vn) 
