Vũ Minh Lý, deputy director of the centre for communication on natural resources and environment (left) and Lê Trung Thông – CEO and Founder of Lagom Vietnam Joint Stock Company with the signed agreement. — Photo courtesy of the centre

The centre for communication on natural resources and environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Lagom Vietnam Company have signed a cooperation agreement on implementing programmes to protect environment and respond to climate change for sustainable development.

Vũ Minh Lý, the centre’s deputy director said: “Plastic waste pollution, commonly referred to as 'white pollution', is a pressing global environmental issue. The quantity of plastic waste continues to escalate, causing negative effects on both the environment and human life.”

Recognising the crucial role it plays in addressing the worldwide plastic waste crisis, Việt Nam has made a firm commitment to take decisive action in reducing plastic waste. The country strives to become a trailblazer in the reduction of ocean plastic waste. In June 2018, during the sixth meeting of the Global Environment Facility General Council, Việt Nam proposed the initiative to “Establish a regional partnership in the East Asian Seas for ocean plastic waste management”. Việt Nam has actively engaged in proposing numerous related initiatives at various regional and international forums.

Lý added: “Through this programme, our determination is to prioritise the development and implementation of educational initiatives on plastic waste recycling in schools and communities from 2024 to 2030.

"Our aim is to awaken the potential of plastic waste recycling and foster the awareness, responsibility, and obligation of Việt Nam's younger generation in environmental protection. We seek to cultivate habits of classifying, collecting, and recycling plastic waste, fostering actions towards a more sustainable environment.”

The Lagom Green Recycle Machine is an educational programme designed to provide a unique recycling experience. Its primary objective is to enhance public awareness, targeting various customer groups such as students, office workers, and residents in both residential and industrial areas nationwide. This programme includes a series of activities aimed at educating students and individuals about waste management and the process of recycling plastic waste as well as the importance of a closed system, starting from waste classification, collection, and ultimately recycling.

Lê Trung Thông, CEO and Founder of Lagom Vietnam Joint Stock Company, said they are operating in communication, education, technology transfer consulting, management models, as well as waste treatment, collection and recycling, has successfully executed numerous programs and projects. These initiatives focus on various aspects like raising awareness, recovering, and recycling plastic waste.

Some notable projects include the milk carton collection and recycling programme, implemented in over 2,000 schools across provinces and cities such as Hà Nội, HCM City, Bắc Ninh, and Nghệ An. Another noteworthy project is the CantoCan initiative, which promotes infinite recycling of aluminum cans and has been implemented in HCM City.

Additionally, Lagom has also launched the Lagom Recycling Machine programme, offering a recycling experience, and the CSR Recycle to Give Back project. —VNS