Da Nang: Minimizing plastic waste at markets and supermarkets.

The Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade is implementing a series of solutions to minimize plastic waste, aiming for sustainable production and consumption.

Markets and supermarkets join forces to reduce plastic waste.

Han Market, a tourist market in Da Nang City, welcomes over 5,000 visitors daily, with peak periods reaching up to 10,000 visitors per day. Corresponding to this volume of goods consumed is a significant amount of non-biodegradable plastic waste, such as plastic bags and single-use plastic items.

Visual campaign to reduce plastic waste at Han Market.

Since 2022, Han Market has been a pioneer in implementing a plastic waste reduction program. Speaking with a reporter from the Industry and Trade Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh, Head of the Han Market Management Board, said that to date, 100% of traders at the market have been educated about reducing plastic waste and limiting the use of plastic bags and single-use plastics. Habits of using environmentally friendly materials are gradually changing, with many businesses switching to using biodegradable bags, paper bags, and paper boxes instead of plastic bags, significantly reducing the amount of plastic bags used.

Notably, 36 businesses voluntarily registered to participate in the Ecoshop program; 32 stalls were labeled with "Eco-labels" and used paper bags instead of plastic bags when selling goods.

In addition, the market also strengthens the sorting and reuse of plastic waste; regularly conducts visual campaigns to raise awareness among traders, customers, and tourists about reducing plastic waste;…

At Co.opmart Da Nang supermarket, Mr. Le Hong Ca, the supermarket director, said that to promote sustainable consumption through small but meaningful actions, the entire Co.opmart system nationwide, including Co.opmart Da Nang, is implementing the "30 Years - Green Commitment" campaign, aiming to minimize the use of single-use plastic bags and gradually form environmentally friendly consumption habits in the community. Co.opmart Da Nang is giving away eco-friendly bags to customers as a token of gratitude and to encourage everyone to join hands in spreading a green lifestyle. Simultaneously, supermarkets are setting up self-packaging areas, equipping them with cardboard boxes and other alternatives to plastic bags, creating conditions for customers to proactively choose more environmentally friendly packaging solutions. In addition, there is a points-awarding program for using eco-friendly bags.

People use eco-friendly bags when shopping at Co.opmart supermarket in Da Nang.

Many supermarkets and markets in the city have also implemented various activities to promote sustainable consumption and reduce plastic waste. For example, Con Market and Dong Da Market provide reusable shopping bags to customers; the MM Mega Market Vietnam supermarket system does not use plastic bags for products…

Promoting sustainable consumption in Da Nang

Implementing legal documents on environmental protection, strengthening management, reuse, recycling, treatment and reduction of waste, such as the National Action Program on Sustainable Production and Consumption for the period 2021-2030 and Decision 3529 on the Action Plan of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to implement the National Action Program on Sustainable Production and Consumption for the period 2021-2030, and Directive No. 08/CT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade on strengthening measures to reduce plastic waste in the industry and trade sector, the leaders of the Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade have directed and supervised the results of implementing measures to reduce plastic waste at markets, shopping centers, supermarkets, and convenience stores in the city.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Quang, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade, the Da Nang Department of Industry and Trade has requested relevant units to develop and implement plans and roadmaps to minimize the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and single-use plastic products in business and service activities. They are to implement alternative solutions using environmentally friendly packaging and materials that are reusable, recyclable, or easily biodegradable; and to encourage stalls, small traders, and businesses within their jurisdiction to use alternative products, minimizing the provision of free non-biodegradable plastic bags to customers.

Green stalls at the Korean market.

Organize the signing of commitments and the implementation of models and programs to reduce plastic emissions at markets, shopping malls, supermarkets, and convenience stores; strengthen communication, propaganda, and guidance to encourage customers to change their consumption habits towards limiting the use of single-use plastic products and prioritizing the use of environmentally friendly products and packaging; and simultaneously integrate activities to encourage and incentivize customers to participate in reducing plastic waste.

In addition, the Department of Industry and Trade has requested industrial production facilities and businesses in the city to strengthen the management, recovery, and recycling of packaging waste according to regulations. They should proactively develop and implement a roadmap to minimize the use of non-biodegradable and single-use plastics in production, business, and product packaging; prioritizing the use of reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable packaging and materials that are environmentally friendly. They should also enhance technological innovation and improve packaging design to minimize plastic waste generation; participate in circular economy models, promote waste recovery, recycling, and reuse, contributing to environmental pollution reduction and sustainable development.

Da Nang's Department of Industry and Trade is implementing various solutions to reduce plastic waste at markets and supermarkets to promote sustainable consumption. Han Market, Co.opmart Da Nang, and many other establishments have replaced plastic bags with environmentally friendly materials, encouraging reuse and waste sorting. The city also requires businesses to reduce single-use plastics, increase recycling, and promote the circular economy.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/da-nang-giam-thieu-chat-thai-nhua-tai-cac-cho-sieu-thi-456038.html