Efforts to take action to resolve plastic waste pollution

Vietnam is facing increasingly serious pollution caused by plastic waste, causing negative impacts on the environment, natural ecology and human health.

Currently, aware of the importance of the dangers of plastic waste, the Government has made strong commitments at regional and international forums and taken specific actions at the national scale.

In particular, Vietnam together with other countries around the world passed Resolution 5/14 at the 2nd Global Environment Assembly (UNEA5.2), agreeing to build a “Global Tool legally binding on ending plastic pollution, including ocean plastic waste.”

At many international forums, Vietnam has proposed initiatives and participated in global cooperation mechanisms to address plastic waste. The Government has issued and implemented policies and solutions to control environmental pollution caused by plastic waste, especially single-use plastic products and difficult-to-decompose plastic bags; Focus on minimizing use, increasing recycling and reuse, promoting the building of a circular economy and green growth.

According to the Project to strengthen plastic waste management in Vietnam, the goal is that by 2025, 100% of plastic bags and environmentally friendly packaging in shopping centers and supermarkets for household purposes will be replaced. replaces plastic bags that are difficult to decompose; The rate of collection, reuse, recycling and treatment of 85% of generated plastic waste.

Besides, the challenges of plastic pollution will be difficult without the participation of businesses. Businesses’ commitments to reducing plastic waste not only help improve brand reputation, demonstrate responsibility, but also open up a new economic sector in line with the circular economy development trend.

In addition, businesses play a particularly important role in the process of negotiating the Global Agreement on Plastics. Enterprises are the driving force and nucleus of the global production and supply chain. Business participation in the drafting of the Agreement is necessary to ensure that plastic waste will be minimized.

Speaking at the live video conference “Blue Ocean Aspiration”, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need to urgently establish and deploy regional and global cooperation mechanisms, data sharing, and consolidation. Strengthen and improve policies on preserving ecosystems, protecting the environment and exploiting marine resources sustainably and effectively, coupled with protecting and restoring marine and coastal ecosystems. .

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has submitted to the Prime Minister for approval the Project to participate in negotiations and establish a Negotiation Working Committee to officially participate in negotiating the Agreement from June 2022 to the end of 2024. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is expected to be the agency preside over the negotiation of the Agreement. The content of the Agreement is expected to have 2 groups, including mandatory obligations and voluntary obligations. Adjusting policies according to the obligations committed when the Agreement comes into effect, both mandatory and voluntary, will have impacts and affects at different levels on a number of specific subjects, especially especially the private sector.
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