Participants at the workshop. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

HÀ NỘI — Despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Plastic Waste Management Public-Private Collaboration has implemented activities in line with key tasks and seen several achievements over the past two years.

This was a key claim of the "Public-Private Collaboration towards a circular economy in plastic waste management in Việt Nam" workshop held on Monday by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Dow Chemical Vietnam Co. Ltd., SCG Group and Unilever Vietnam International Co. Ltd.

Since the signing of an MoU, the workshop has evaluated the results of cooperation in the past two years, admitted 24 new members, and set out major focuses for the coming years.

It will also make contributions to the "National Action Plan on ocean plastic waste management to 2030" and the "Scheme on strengthening plastic waste management in Việt Nam" of the Prime Minister.

Plastic pollution is a major challenge for the world. The amount of plastic waste produced has been too high, causing a great burden on the environment, especially in developing countries with incomplete solid waste management systems like Việt Nam.

On average, each year, Việt Nam generates about 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste, which is higher than the world average and is among the top 20 countries with the largest amount of waste.

The initiative aims to bring plastic waste into the circular economy and manage the plastic waste problem in Việt Nam through knowledge sharing, technology transfer, raising public awareness and innovation to address plastic waste on a national scale.

Phan Tuấn Hùng, the ministry’s Director of Legal Department, said: “The establishment and development of the Public-Private Cooperation group creates synergy, and establishes a model of cooperation to solve the current plastic waste problem in Việt Nam.”

Ekkasit Lakkananithiphan, General Director of Dow Vietnam, said: “At Dow, we have the responsibility and opportunity to pioneer in addressing global challenges. We are delighted to see more and more stakeholders together promoting the circular economy in Việt Nam.'

Thanapat Kaweetraiphop, Commercial Director of Long, Son Petrochemical Company, said: “Public-Private Collaboration for Plastic Waste Management has worked to find solutions for pilot projects related to plastic waste management."

"Plastic waste management in Hà Nội, Cần Thơ and Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu, suitable to each local context and can be maintained for a long time. To expand the framework and scale to other areas, we need continuous support and cooperation from all levels of government and partners in the plastic waste management chain to build a sustainable circular economy."

Nguyễn Thị Bích Vân, President of Unilever Vietnam, said: “Public-Private Collaboration in Plastic Waste Management is an urgent and highly practical solution in promoting the Circular Economy model in Plastic Waste Management to build a Việt Nam without plastic waste. This will contribute to realizing the Government's commitment to bring net emissions to 'zero' by mid-century at the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow."

"We hope that the partnership will not only stop at the founders but will expand and grow stronger with the participation of more organisations and enterprises with the same vision across the country, to create a synergistic strength of public and private and achieve far-reaching and profound effects across society.” — VNS