Consumers check products at fresh food and vegetable sections in a supermarket in Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photo Trần Việt

HÀ NỘI — Consumers in Việt Nam are reluctant to use eco-friendly products made from natural materials as they are more expensive than plastic products, according to economic experts.

Normally, eco-friendly products cost twice as much as plastic products, causing consumers and small businesses to be reluctant to use the former.

The Government has set a target to use 100 per cent of environmentally friendly plastic bags and packaging in shopping malls and supermarkets by 2025 and to ensure the collection, reuse, recycling, and treatment of 85 per cent of plastic waste.

Facing the serious danger of plastic waste to the environment, many legal documents on this issue have been issued.

In Hà Nội, many supermarkets have managed to reduce non-biodegradable plastic bags and replace them with 100 per cent biodegradable bags and banana leaves. However, the number of products wrapped in banana leaves and biodegradable bags is still modest compared to the number of goods on sale.

Acting Director of Hà Nội’s Department of Industry and Trade, Trần Thị Phương Lan, said that to support businesses, the Department would continue to propose mechanisms and policies to introduce and consume eco-friendly products.

It would also promote the development of infrastructure, collection and recycling services for hard-to-decompose plastic waste, single-use, and non-degradable plastic bags; research on advanced technology transfer mechanisms for recycling hard-to-decompose plastic waste.

From mid-2021, the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with the Hà Nội Department of Industry and Trade has called for businesses to sign a commitment to join the Alliance of Retailers to reduce nylon bags.

So far, 16 retailers have registered to join the alliance and are committed to working together to reduce plastic bags and single-use plastic products.

A Central Retail Vietnam Group representative said that, as a member of the Alliance of Retailers to reduce plastic bag consumption, all of Central Retail's supermarkets are no longer trading single-use plastics such as pipes.

Instead, its supermarkets have piloted using biodegradable plastic bags made from cornmeal and potatoes to help customers accompany the supermarket in environmental protection. — VNS