Did you know?

The SDG target our group is focusing on is target 14.1, Reduce Marine Pollution. In 2023, Vietnam was ranked among the top 10 countries with the most plastic pollution, producing around 8,000 tons of plastic waste every day, of which 75% is improperly disposed of. 60% of this improperly disposed waste ends up in waterways all over Vietnam, and 51.4% of it ends up in the Red River Delta. When this much plastic waste is disposed of improperly, it cannot only affect marine life, but also human health, with microplastics being found in the human blood of inhabitants around the Red River. This can also result in long-term health issues and can make people 4.5 times more vulnerable to diseases like a heart attack, and can overall decrease life expectancy in Vietnam. However, despite the large amount of waste, many non-government research groups are trying their best to prevent this problem, such as Ocean Conservancy, a non-profit advocacy group that mainly focuses on SDG target number 14.1, and even academic institutions are contributing. UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) has taken action on marine pollution in tourist places in Vietnam. Multi-pronged approaches that promote sustainable tourism and improve waste management systems, also involving piloting projects, such as waste-to-energy programs, and working with VNAT (Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) to establish criteria for organizing ‘plastic waste free businesses. UNDP has been partnering with Vietnam since 1978, and its goal is to decrease plastic pollution in Vietnam by 50% and increase the recycling of plastic waste by 85% by 2025. There have been a lot of pauses due to a lot of natural disasters in Vietnam, but overall, they are doing a good job of decreasing plastic pollution. 

Technical Lead - Marta

Business Lead - Tina 

Marketing Lead - Keshav 

Innovation Lead - Neria