Illustrative image. Photo moitruong.net.vn

HÀ NỘI – A workshop has been held in Hà Nội, aiming to share results and experiences in reducing the use of plastic bags at supermarkets and retailers.

The event, jointly organised by the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE) under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), drew more than 50 delegates representing plastic waste reduction partners, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and retailers.

Nguyễn Trung Thắng, ISPONRE’s deputy director, highlighted that the Government of Việt Nam has approved many policies to limit plastic bags and single-use plastic products, and set a target to use 100 per cent of environmentally friendly plastic bags and packaging at shopping malls and supermarkets by 2025 and to ensure the collection, reuse, recycling, and treatment of 85 per cent of plastic waste.

The 2020 Law on Environmental Protection 2020 stipulates the manufacturer's responsibility for recycling and waste treatment as well as regulations on the reduction, recycling and treatment of plastic waste and prevention of ocean plastic waste pollution.

Activities in response to the International Plastic Bag Free Day at retailers are the first step to successfully implementing Việt Nam's goal of reducing plastic waste pollution, Thắng said.

According to Nguyễn Thị Diệu Thúy, Director of WWF Việt Nam's Plastic Waste Reduction Programme, activities of the Plastic Bag Free Day in Việt Nam have been conducted in various forms, spreading the message of reducing the use of plastic bags.

In the coming time, members of the alliance of retailers to reduce plastic bag consumption will continue to carry out activities in this regard, she said, adding the Plastic Bag Free Day in Việt Nam will continue to be implemented on Wednesdays in the country's major cities of Hà Nội, Hồ Chí Minh City, Hải Phòng, and Cần Thơ at the Tops Markets supermarket system. VNS