Participants speak at the seminar held in Hanoi on June 16 to review the "Rethinking Plastics - Circular Economy Solutions to Marine Litter" project. (Photo courtesy of the Expertise France) Oneof these projects is called "Rethinking Plastics - Circular EconomySolutions to Marine Litter," funded by the European Union and the GermanFederal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) andjointly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für InternationaleZusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Expertise France, to reduce marine litterand support a transition towards towards the circular economy.
Inthe closing workshop of the project in Vietnam this week, partners ofthe project presented results regarding policy development and outcomes ofpilot projects in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Phu Yen.
Thesepilot projects focused on researching and implementing solutions to theplastic waste problem and improving the collection, sorting and recycling ofplastic waste inland and in ports.
Theprojects' initial outcomes have helped improve the current circumstances in theaforementioned areas and contributed to policy recommendations.
"RethinkingPlastics" helped policymakers build strategies for improving plasticwaste management, as well as sustainable consumption and production of plasticsand ways to deal with plastic waste in the ocean. One highlight was thecontribution to the development of a legal framework for Extended ProducerResponsibility (EPR) and the preparation of information and guidelines on EPR.
"Theocean is currently facing never-before-seen threats due to the effects ofglobal warming, as well as unsustainable acts of resources exploitation,pollution and reduction of the marine ecosystem," said Hoang XuanHuy, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation underthe Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE).
TheUnited Nations warned that plastic waste had reached the deepest part of theocean, and humanity must act swiftly.
"Itis one of our priorities to contribute to the global effort to solve thisproblem," said Huy.
Everyyear, 11 million tonnes of plastic waste are discharged into the oceanworldwide, with 150 million tonnes currently in the ocean, disrupting the foodchain of oceanic lifeforms. 75 percent of current plastic-based products will becomewaste in the future.
Plasticwaste pollution is also negatively affecting the economy, with the costsreaching 1.3 billion USD yearly, comprising of greenhouse gas costs,health costs and waste management.
Vietnamis currently one of the top countries discharging plastic waste into the ocean.Plastic consumption in Vietnam has been rising quickly, from 3.8 kg per personin 1990 to 54 kg per person in 2018.
Vietnameseconsumption of plastic products comes primarily from packaging with 57 percentand appliances with 29 percent. 80 percent of plastic waste in Vietnam comesfrom inland, and only 20 percent comes from fisheries.
AsVietnam is committed to solving plastic waste, the country has legalised manyaspects of the solution to these problems, and the government have set a goalto reduce plastic waste in the ocean by 2030.
"Plasticwaste affects all of us," said Astrid Schomaker, Director-Generalof Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism of the European Commission. "Weneed to reach for a circular economy, an economy where resources are properlyand sustainably managed.
"Iam impressed with what project 'Rethinking Plastics' has achieved. Through theproject, we have collaborated closely with government agencies of Vietnam toshare our experiences and help Vietnam alleviate the threat of plastic waste inthe ocean.
"Wehope that these activities can open up new ideas and policies that help reducewaste, improve the quality of recycling, and support the procedures that arerelated to the design, transport, distribution, consumption, management andhandling of plastic waste in Vietnam."/.
VNA
