Hanoi (VNA) – National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, the Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) and the People’s Committee of Con Dao district in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on September 30 launched the “Bay nhe toi Con Dao” (flying lightly to Con Dao) campaign, with an aim of reducing carbon emissions.

The campaign is also to increase programmes to collect, treat and recycle all types of waste with a goal of treating 85% of generated plastic waste by 2025, while promoting sustainable aviation and tourism and shifting the economy towards a circular direction in Con Dao.

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau Dang Minh Thong said that the campaign is hoped to make specific contributions to the roadmap for reducing plastic waste and carbon emissions, moving towards the goals of green economic development, circular economy and sustainable development of Con Dao district.

Meanwhile, Vietnam Airlines Deputy General Director Dinh Van Tuan said that protecting Con Dao is not only to preserve the landscape and today living environment but also a precious gift for the future. By "flying lightly", each person will contribute to preserving the "pearl island" of Con Dao for future generations, he stated.

At the launching ceremony, representatives of the Con Dao district People's Committee, Vietnam Airlines and Lagom Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding affirming their commitment to cooperation, starting a pioneering campaign on environmental protection.

On the occasion, Vietnam Airlines and VASCO presented 10 sets of tables and chairs made of materials from recycled plastic waste collected in the island district to some local tourist destinations and residents of Con Dao.

Earlier on September 23-24, Vietnam Airlines coordinated with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Con Dao to collect plastic waste at Bai Nhat, during which 780kg of waste were gathered, including 380kg of recyclable plastic waste, which was classified and brought to the mainland to be "revived" into green recycled products such as tables, chairs, and flower pots to give back to Con Dao.

According to Vietnam Airlines, Con Dao is famous for its pristine natural beauty and diverse ecosystems. In recent years, the rapid growth of tourism has put pressure on Con Dao's waste treatment infrastructure, especially for plastic waste. Along with that, the impact of climate change has impacted environmental quality and threatened the island's endemic ecosystem.

The campaign is expected to become a pioneering initiative in partnership among aviation development, sustainable tourism and economic transformation towards circularity.

Throug🍰h this campaign, Vietnam Airlines hopes to encourage passengers on each flight to reduce the weight of their luggage, limiting the discharge of plastic waste to the environment, "lightening" the weight of each flight and the amount of carbon emissions, thus reducing the amount of plastic waste to the environment./.