VN to get rid of disposable plastic bags by 2025

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and delegates go on foot at the Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake, June 9, 2019 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the point at the launching of the national campaign against plastic waste on June 9 at the Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake. 

The event drew the attendance of President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Tran Thanh Man, Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung, ministry and local leaders.

Addressing the event, PM Phuc stressed that plastic waste has become a global pressing issue. Discharged plastic waste is able to cover four times of the Earth surface. In addition, 11 million tons of plastic wastes are floating on oceans. Plastic waste has caused negative impacts on the ecosystem and the environment, hampering people’s health and sustainable growth of every country. 

According to the Government chief, Viet Nam has joined hands with other countries; submitted initiatives and participated in global and regional mechanisms to resolve plastic waste. 

He expressed the pleasure to witness practical modals, initiatives, and action taken by some localities, enterprises, and community to mitigate, categorize, and recycle plastic waste.  

The PM welcomed the establishment of the Alliance of business to end plastic waste.

However, there are a lot of shortcomings and limitations in plastic waste rooted from awareness of businesses and popular habit of people on consumption of plastic bags. PM Phuc stressed that it is time to take practical actions to control and prevent plastic bags so that Vietnamese people at present and future generations would be able to live in pure, safe, and sustainable environment. 

PM Phuc underlined the necessity to have high political determination, effective measures to prevent and reduce plastic waste pollution and so no to plastic bags. He set forth the goals that by 2020, stores, supermarkets, and wet markets will no longer use disposable plastic bags. By 2025, the country will get rid of disposable plastic bags. 

He proposed ministerial and local leaders and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front to support specific plans on plastic bag prevention and limit procurement of disposable plastic products. 

Every public servant, officials, party member, and leader should take the lead and set examples in getting rid of plastic products and disposable plastic bags. 

The Government chief noticed the importance of strengthening investment, research, and application of new technologies in plastic waste recycling; development of alternative materials. 

PM Phuc also called upon international cooperation against plastic bags especially ocean plastic products in favor of mankind prosperity./.

By Kim Anh