Young enterprises paying more attention to reuse

The Alumni Green Business Showcase, an annual event organised by RMIT Vietnam’s Alumni Relations department since 2023, is dedicated to promoting sustainable practices and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives.

This year’s event, open to the public from November 9-17, 2024, offers a platform for visitors to connect with hundreds of business leaders and individuals passionate about green development.

REPEET recycling plastic bottles to make some fabrics

This year’s showcase features innovative products and services from 15 companies, spanning both business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets in industries such as agriculture, food, green energy, new materials, and recycling technology.

Among the companies, REPEET is making waves in sustainable fashion by replacing petroleum-based polyester with recycled polyester fibres sourced domestically. The brand has established a comprehensive supply chain involving collection, classification, recycling, and production, which has contributed to a 57 per cent reduction in carbon emissions and a 70 per cent saving in water usage.

"By using 10 tonnes of REPEET fabric, we have recycled nearly 1.45 million PET plastic bottles, reducing carbon emissions equivalent to a car travelling 57,000 km and saving 70,000 litres of water," said Vang Vien Thong, CEO and founder of REPEET. "Pioneering plastic waste recycling into sustainable garment products in Vietnam not only benefits the environment but also establishes a new business model that supports the global textile industry’s sustainability goals," he added.

This year’s showcase also breaks ground with its green and reusable booth concept. Building on the recycling focus from last year’s event, where booths were crafted from recyclable materials, this year’s emphasis has shifted to reusability. The booths are modular, allowing them to be easily assembled, disassembled, and reconfigured for future events without the need for permanent adhesives. Lightweight yet durable, these booths are designed to minimise both transportation costs and environmental impact.

Year-long Sach Sanh Sanh campaign organised by RMIT Vietnam’s Alumni Relations team

“By incorporating innovative design and green principles, we aim to inspire businesses and event organisers in Vietnam to prioritise sustainability,” said Nguyen Thuy Linh, deputy manager of Alumni Relations at RMIT Vietnam. “Whether it’s a single company reusing their booth or RMIT adapting these structures for future events, the modular design supports a reduction in waste and resource consumption.”

The showcase is a flagship event within RMIT Vietnam’s year-long Sach Sanh Sanh campaign, led by the Alumni Relations team. In addition to the exhibition, RMIT is also collecting used items such as clothes and books at its Hanoi campus. Participants can exchange their donations at the Green Market event, encouraging a culture of reuse and supporting a more sustainable lifestyle.

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Promoting plastic waste collection and recycling towards a circular economy Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, in tandem with VietCycle, held a training course on August 23 for informal workers who collect waste to show them how to classify everyday items that can be recycled.

Vietnam's plastics industry embraces recycling trends Vietnam's plastics companies are turning their focus towards environmentally friendly technologies as well as new materials, embracing change to promote recycling and reduce and eliminate plastics in the environment.