Promoting plastic waste collection and recycling towards a circular economy

The course was part of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam’s efforts to improve plastic waste collection, recycling, and reduction, demonstrating the company's commitment to working with the Vietnamese government to ensure extended producer responsibility (EPR) and promote the circular economy.

This initiative aims to improve the efficiency of waste collection and recycling, and focuses on educating the community about separating and recycling waste, while promoting sustainable behaviour and creating positive and lasting changes in the community.

Attending the event were Nguyen Thi Thu Trang, a representative from the Solid Waste Management Department under Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment; Ngo Nu Huyen Trang, head of External Affairs, Environment, Society and Corporate Governance and Communications at Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam; Lai Van Manh, head of the Economic Department at the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; top leaders from VietCycle; and 100 informal waste collectors.

At the event, Trang spoke about the undeniable role played by informal workers, dubbed the green warriors, in collecting and recycling waste. “However, these waste collectors do not have proper training. That is why training sessions like this play an important role, bringing a lot of value to this special team,” said Trang.

Trang from Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam noted that with more than 90 per cent of women, the green warriors collect more than 30 per cent of recyclable plastic waste, 65-70 per cent of which comes from households or trading establishments in small alleys.

“Through today's workshop, we wish to share the difficulties, acknowledge the contributions, support the welfare, and enhance the capacity of the green warriors present here, and especially we want to express our utmost respect because this force is doing a noble and meaningful job,” said Trang.

Hoang Duc Vuong, chairman of VietCycle, said, “In VietCycle's XanhNet ecosystem, we call this informal workforce the green warriors. We would like to create strong connections with its members and pioneer in sharing knowledge.

“Fortunately, we have Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam accompanying us on that journey. We would also like to thank the management agencies as well as all of our green warriors for joining hands for a civilised Vietnam,” he said.

According to a 2021 report, Vietnam generates about 8,021 tonnes of plastic waste per day, equivalent to about 2.93 million tonnes a year. This is an extremely high number which is increasing.

In that context, the enforcement of EPR regulations, proposed from January 1, 2025, will prove crucial, helping not only to increase the reuse, recycling, and reduction of waste, but also changing the habits of manufacturers and consumers. This will help expand the use of environmentally friendly raw materials, reducing plastic waste, and moving towards a circular economy.

With over 20 years of experience in plastic waste collection and recycling, VietCycle has received support and cooperation from state management agencies and domestic and international organisations to build a circular economic model, combating waste pollution and saving resources.

Amid rising environmental challenges, the company has made efforts to build a nationwide waste collection network, called XanhNet, to support the livelihoods of informal workers, closely cooperating with recyclers, while sharing benefits and spreading the aspiration for a civilised Vietnam with proper waste treatment.

To realise this aspiration, VietCycle is striving to develop the XanhNet ecosystem, which currently encompasses more than 3,500 informal collectors and over 26 recycling factories across Vietnam.

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