WWF's innovative models for plastic reduction in Vietnam

10/12/2024

TN&MTThe Urban Plastic Reduction program, a global initiative involving 42 cities worldwide, has gained momentum in Vietnam, with nine cities committing to action plans and actively implementing them. This is a significant effort by the program in Vietnam. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), along with the Government of Vietnam, recognizes the support and collaboration of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in aiding the government and local communities across the nation to achieve these initial outcomes.

WWF's innovative models for plastic reduction in Vietnam

Women exchanging waste for alternative products

Innovative approaches for the community

The Plastic Smart Cities (PSC) program has collaborated with and supported localities in developing action plans for Ocean Plastic Waste Management through 2025, with a vision toward 2030. Key objectives include: improving, supplementing, revising, and strengthening the enforcement of local policies on plastic waste management and reduction; raising awareness through public campaigns and education about reducing plastic waste; enhancing systems for waste management, collection, and processing; promoting waste segregation and recycling; controlling plastic waste pollution both onshore and offshore; and conducting international collaborations, research, and monitoring and evaluation activities. These action plans clearly define the roles and responsibilities of all local stakeholders involved in their implementation.

Speaking about some of the achievements of the Plastic Waste Reduction Program, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dieu Thuy, Director of WWF-Vietnam's Plastic Waste Reduction Program, said: "The first thing I want to emphasize is that during the project implementation, we observed significant shifts among stakeholders in urban areas within the project regions. Local governments have shown strong leadership, while citizens and businesses have adhered closely to the plans and complied with the regulations outlined in the Environmental Protection Law of 2020. Simultaneously, the proactive support and guidance from the central level—particularly from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, from the central to the local levels—have greatly facilitated the project’s implementation. This support has made our work much more effective."

"For the Plastic Smart Cities program, the initial step was to evaluate the current state of plastic waste in localities. This was done using the Plastic Waste Flow Assessment model, which examines all stages of the waste lifecycle—from sources of waste generation in households, businesses, and public areas, to collection, transportation, recycling, and finally disposal or landfill. Additionally, a portion of the waste escapes directly into the environment without being collected. In this initial step, we assessed all stages to calculate how much plastic waste was leaking into the environment and identified critical intervention points to effectively reduce and eventually eliminate plastic waste leakage. There are many possible approaches, but for this project, we selected a strategy tailored to each locality. These interventions were led by the local authorities, with strong support and collaboration from all stakeholders to collectively reduce sources and points of plastic waste leakage into the environment," Ms. Nguyen Thi Dieu Thu shared.

Prioritizing capacity building and community support

Vietnam’s coastal areas are popular destinations for domestic and international tourists. However, the influx of visitors also brings significant environmental pressure, particularly in the form of increasing waste generation.

When implementing the Plastic Smart Cities program in these areas, WWF Vietnam recognized the importance of leveraging local resources and conditions while rallying community participation and the support of local authorities and stakeholders. The organization prioritized building capacity and providing support to ensure that coordinating units had the necessary information and resources to implement community-based models effectively.

Over more than four years, the program has conducted numerous communication campaigns, training sessions, and educational activities for students in schools and key local leaders. These efforts extended to residential clusters, households, and businesses, fostering community alignment and support for waste reduction initiatives.

Key local organizations, such as the Women’s Union, Youth Union, Veterans’ Association, Farmers’ Union, and the Fatherland Front, were identified as influential groups that regularly engage with communities. 

Throughout the past five years, WWF has focused on developing scalable model projects tailored to local contexts but replicable in other regions.

Notable initiatives include the "Green House for Plastic Waste Collection," a model spearheaded by Women’s Unions in localities such as Hue, Phu Quoc, Dong Hoi, Thanh Khe (Da Nang), and Long An. This model, especially successful in Dong Hoi and Hue, mobilized fishermen—family members of the union members—to bring recyclable waste ashore. Funds raised from recycling these materials were used to support disadvantaged women, children orphaned during the COVID-19 pandemic, and fishermen facing risks or losses at sea.

While these financial contributions were modest, they had a profound impact, motivating fishermen to actively participate and bring recyclable waste back to shore. 

WWF and the Vietnamese government highly value this community-driven approach for its widespread impact and sustainability.

Another example is the Women’s Union in Phu Quoc, which implemented an "action-oriented education" model. Women in residential groups identified and committed to practical activities, such as repurposing discarded Styrofoam boxes as compost bins for organic waste, which were then used to grow aloe vera, chili, and pepper. These efforts not only fostered environmental consciousness but also yielded tangible economic benefits, inspiring neighboring communities to adopt similar practices.

In A Luoi district (Thua Thien Hue province), the local Youth Union transformed neglected hotspots into playgrounds for children through cleanup campaigns. This initiative received widespread acclaim from local authorities and residents, as it turned previously avoided areas into vibrant, communal spaces.

Engaging businesses in plastic reduction efforts

According to WWF Vietnam, many businesses in project areas have joined hands in reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable urban environments. For instance, Khai Hoan fish sauce enterprise in Phu Quoc took proactive steps to minimize plastic waste during its operations. Similarly, hotels have adopted measures such as reducing plastic packaging, using glass bottles instead of plastic ones, and minimizing plastic waste in guest services.

Another exemplary case is Vung Ro (Phu Yen), where aquaculture activities had long caused significant pollution. With support from the project and local authorities, cleanup efforts transformed the area into a cleaner and well-managed environment. Today, the site stands as a testament to the power of community-driven change.

To further replicate successful models, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dieu Thuy emphasized that these initiatives are not rigid templates to be duplicated across regions. Instead, they should be adapted to the unique circumstances and resources of each locality. The core principle remains that when communities perceive environmental protection as beneficial and relevant to their lives, they will actively contribute to creating impactful changes.

As one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, WWF regards plastic pollution as an extremely serious issue. Since 2017, plastic waste has become a key focus area not only for WWF-Vietnam but also for its global network. The organization employs diverse approaches, such as raising awareness, promoting behavioral changes in communities, school-based education, corporate partnerships, advocacy for policy changes, and large-scale community engagement.

WWF-Vietnam collaborates with a variety of partners, ranging from central government agencies like the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to local authorities and businesses in sectors such as hospitality, restaurants, and tourism. Notable locales of implementation include Da Nang, Hue, Long An, Phu Yen, Rach Gia, and Phu Quoc.

Several plastic waste reduction projects have been rolled out nationwide. These include: (1) Phu Quoc – Towards a Plastic-Free Island (2018-2020), implemented in Phu Quoc district; (2) Plastic Smart Cities Program in Vietnam (2019-2021), carried out in cities such as Hue, Phu Yen, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Rach Gia. These projects contribute to WWF's global goal of eliminating plastic waste in nature by 2030.

Ngoc Huyen

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