Did you know?

In Vietnam, a current human development barrier is environmental degradation, which is about air, water and land pollution caused by the increase of hazardous and non-recyclable waste. As plastic pollution can harm people’s health, fish and tourists. This barrier focused on various sustainable development goals but our phoenix nest group decided to look at SDG 12, specifically at target 12.5, substantially reduce waste generation through recycling and reusing systems. An indicator that connects to this SDG is 12.5.1, national recycling rate and tons of material recycled. 

Vietnam produces 3.8 million tons of plastic waste every year, of which 10-15% always end up in the ocean, and only 27% of it is recycled. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) is trying to solve it by implementing a national action plan, including banning single-use plastic and improving recycling systems, but it’s difficult because there’s not enough money and awareness. 

The problem is complex because it connects to habits, economy and education. Many people in Vietnam still rely on cheap plastic and don’t know how to sort it properly. That is why our group aims to solve this problem by turning the waste into a variety of products that promote sustainability such as plant pots. Instead of the plastic going into disuse, we can make it into a product that can be more cost friendly, less fragile and most importantly, better for the environment. We believe that recycling is the best option for helping Hanoi limit their waste.