A plastic waste crisis is taking place worldwide posing great challenges for all countries including Vietnam. Enhancing public-private cooperation towards a circular economy in plastic waste management means sharing information, transferring technology, raising public awareness, and promoting innovation to deal with plastic wastes through the joint efforts of state agencies, enterprises, and the community.

The agreement focuses on raising public awareness about reducing plastic waste, classifying waste, recycling plastic waste, investing in waste treatment technology, and enhancing dialogues. Vo Tuan Nhan, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said: “The MoU reflects Vietnam’s determination to deal with plastic waste to ensure sustainable growth. The Ministry and enterprises will set up a joint working group to devise special plans to realize the agreement.”

Vietnam is working closely with the international community in reducing plastic waste and protecting the marine ecological environment and oceans. In 2017, Vietnam joined 127 other countries in adopting a resolution of the UN Environment Assembly addressing plastic waste and marine debris. At the G7 Summit in Canada in 2018, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc pledged to take action and call for global cooperation in dealing with plastic waste in oceans.