Environment

Saigon Co.op becomes first retailer to stop selling plastic straws

More than 600 nationwide supermarkets and convenience stores of the Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op) have taken the leap to remove all plastic straws from their shelves this month.
Saigon Co.op becomes first retailer to stop selling plastic straws ảnh 1Banana leaves are used to wrap vegetables at a supermarket (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – More than 600 nationwide supermarketsand convenience stores of the Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives (SaigonCo.op) have taken the leap to remove all plastic straws from their shelves thismonth.

This is the first retail system in Vietnam tostop selling plastic straws.

Deputy Director General of Saigon Co.op NguyenAnh Duc said that in the long run, his firm will also remove plastic strawsattached to its private label products. It will ask retailers inside its storesto minimise the use of plastic straws.

Saigon Co.op is also replacing plastic bags withbanana leaves as an environmentally-friendly material to wrap food, he added.

In 2011, the firm became the first to replace single-useplastic bags with bio-degradable ones.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade said the useof bio-degradable bags and banana leaves to wrap food is amongst thesignificant efforts by Saigon Co.op to reduce the quantity of plastic bags incirculation to help protect the environment.

Many countries like the US, the Republic ofKorea, and China have banned or issued a roadmap for prohibiting the use ofthis type of plastic product.

In Vietnam, the Government has imposed an environmentaltax rate of 100-250 percent of the production cost of 1 kg of single-useplastic bags. However, problems in tax collection have hampered the developmentof bio-degradable bag producers.

According to international organisations,Vietnam is one of Asia’s five worst polluters of ocean plastic waste. With 13million tonnes of waste released into the ocean every year, the country ranks17th in the world for ocean plastic waste pollution.

The Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment estimated that a staggering 80 tonnes of plastic waste and bags arethrown away every day in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City alone.

The ministry aimed to reduce 65 percent of single-useplastic bags used at supermarkets and shopping malls by 2020 compared to 2010. Vietnamhopes to eliminate disposable plastic bags by 2026. –VNA
VNA
#Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives#Saigon Co.op#plastic straws#plastic bags#single-use plastic bags#bio-degradable bags#plastic products#plastic pollution#updated Vietnam news#Vietnamplus#Vietnam News Agency
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

'Say no to plastic bags' gains popularity

'Say no to plastic bags' gains popularity

In the recent times, some supermarkets in Vietnam have started using banana leaves to wrap food instead of plastic bags. The move has been praised by the community.

See more

Kon Plong district in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum (Photo: VNA)

3.7 magnitude earthquake hits Kon Tum

A 3.7 magnitude earthquake hit Kon Plong district in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum on October 23 evening, according to the Earthquake Information and Tsunami Warning Centre under the Institute of Geophysics.

Nha Trang Bay covers nearly 250 km2 and is one of the 16 marine protected areas in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

Nha Trang bay marine ecosystem records positive recovery

The marine ecosystem of the Nha Trang bay in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa has gradually shown positive recovery after more than 1.5 years implementing concerted solutions under a masterplan to preserve and restore coral reefs there.

At the ENV's press conference on October 22. (Photo: VNA)

ENV helps Vietnam do away with bear farming

The Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV), Vietnam’s first non-governmental organisation focused on wildlife conservation, organised a press conference on October 22 to review its efforts over the past two decades to end bear farming for bile in the country.

Plastic bottles arranged to create a beautiful ceiling lighting system. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam promoting circular economy through waste, packaging recycling

Sorting, collecting, and recycling packaging is one of the solutions that not only helps regenerate products but also effectively reduces environmental pollution, heard a conference on circular economy held within the framework of the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) 2024 in Ho Chi Minh City on October 22.

Reviving 'Green Belt' in south-central region

Reviving 'Green Belt' in south-central region

Mangrove forests are a unique and rare ecosystem that form in coastal areas and river estuaries that are influenced by tidal effects. Occupying just over 1% of Vietnam’s total forest area (14.4 million ha), yet they play a pivotal role in mitigating the impact of climate change.

UNDP recommends Can Tho establish river waste collection system

UNDP recommends Can Tho establish river waste collection system

The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho generates approximately 650 tons of waste daily. While the garbage collection rate is relatively high at 85%, the city continues to struggle with waste management that ends up in waterways, floating markets, rivers, and lakes.

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Deputy Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the UN, speak at the debate. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam raises suggestions at UNGA’s environmental, climate debate

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Deputy Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the UN, on October 16 recommended several issues that the organisation and its member states should prioritise and promote in the coming time, at a meeting hosted by the Economic and Financial Committee of the UN General Assembly (UNGA)’s 77th Session.

Representatives from ministries, agencies and organisations at the launch of the ASEAN Eco-Schools Vietnam Award 2024. (Photo: baotainguyenmoitruong.vn)

ASEAN Eco-schools Award launched in Vietnam

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in coordination with the Office of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) in Vietnam and relevant units, held a ceremony on October 14 to launch the ASEAN Eco-Schools Vietnam Award 2024.

The National Forestry Planning for the 2021 – 2030 period, with a vision to 2050 sets a target of forest coverage rate of 42-43%. (Photo: VNA)

National Forestry Planning announced

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has set a target of reaching a stable national forest cover rate of 42-43%, focusing on improving forest quality by 2030.

Delegates at second AZEC Leaders' Meeting (Photo: VNA)

PM urges drastic action for net-zero emission in Asia

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged countries to take more drastic actions, with stronger will and determination, to tackle climate change, aiming for net-zero emissions across Asia as soon as possible.

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam observes International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development coordinated with the United Nations (UN) representative agencies in Vietnam and the Thua Thien-Hue provincial People's Committee on October 11 held a ceremony in response to the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and ASEAN Day for Disaster Management in Hue city.

A view of the K50 Waterfall (Hang En Waterfall) in the Kon Ka Kinh National Park in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai. (Photo: VNA)

Network to connect ASEAN Heritage Parks in Vietnam

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) is developing a network to connect ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs) in Vietnam, as part of activities in implementing the National Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, with a vision for 2050.

At the event (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam’s forestry sector leads in achieving net negative emissions

Forestry is now the only sector capable of achieving net negative emissions, thanks to the Government's forestry development policies, including the closure of natural forests, forest protection and development, coupled with international sponsorship, said Director of the Forestry Department Tran Quang Bao.

An entrepreneur pitches his ideas to the panel of experts at the workshop. (Photo: VNA)

Forest programme boosts local businesses

Vietnam has increased forest coverage from 23% in 1994 to more than 45% today, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to forestation, according to Alexis Corblin, Regional Technical Advisor of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

PM Pham Minh Chinh chairs the meeting (Photo: VNA)

PM urges drastic action for green transition

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 2 called for stronger determination and more drastic action to combat climate change, stressing that green transformation, energy transition, and greenhouse gas emission reduction are inevitable and irreversible trends.