Vietnam and Denmark join forces to combat food waste.

On the afternoon of November 12th, the Vietnam Food Bank Network, in collaboration with the Danish Embassy and the Danish Veterinary and Food Agency (DVFA), launched the "Guide to Food Waste Recycling," aiming to promote the safe, efficient, and sustainable sorting, reuse, and recycling of leftover food within the community, contributing to reducing food waste and protecting the environment.

This activity is part of the Vietnam-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership, signed by the two governments in November 2023, a significant milestone in bilateral cooperation on green transition, renewable energy, and sustainable waste management.

Ms. Sanne Høj Andrén, Food and Agriculture Counselor, Danish Embassy in Vietnam, and Mr. Nguyen Tuan Khoi, President of the Vietnam Food Bank Network, introduced the Handbook on Recycling Food Waste.

According to estimates by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately one-third of the world's food supply, equivalent to 1.3 billion tons, is lost or wasted each year. Vietnam is also facing this situation, with a rapid increase in food waste in urban areas and industrial zones, putting significant pressure on the environment and waste treatment systems.

Based on this reality, the "Guide to Food Waste Recycling - Solutions Towards a Green Future" handbook was compiled to help households, schools, businesses, and communities sort, reuse, and recycle leftover food safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Through this handbook, the stakeholders hope that the Vietnamese community can transform waste into resources while reducing methane (CH₄) emissions, one of the main contributors to climate change.

This publication is based on Denmark's international experience and standards, while also being adapted to suit Vietnamese conditions.

This handbook, comprising five chapters, provides visual information on sorting, reusing, and recycling food waste. The content is based on the experience and international standards of Denmark, a pioneering country in waste management and green economic development, while also being adapted to the practical conditions in Vietnam.

Ms. Sanne Høj Andrén gave a speech at the ceremony.

At the launch ceremony, Ms. Sanne Høj Andrén, Counselor for Food and Agriculture at the Danish Embassy in Vietnam, emphasized: “Denmark and Vietnam share a common goal of sustainable development. We are proud to partner with the Vietnam Food Bank Network to transfer knowledge and best practices in food waste management, helping to create positive change at the community level.”

The handbook is also part of the "Green Vietnam - No Food Waste" action program, initiated by the Vietnam Food Bank Network. Within the framework of the program, many community models have been implemented, such as collecting and recycling coffee grounds, fruit peels, and organic by-products into fertilizer for "Community Food Gardens"; building "Student Shared Kitchens" at universities; and connecting businesses with farms in the "From Farm to Food Bank" chain, contributing to rescuing surplus agricultural products and recycling agricultural by-products.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Khoi emphasized that this handbook not only guides people on how to do things but also inspires each citizen to work together to build a community free of food waste.

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Khoi, Chairman of the Vietnam Food Bank Network, said: “We believe that big changes start with small actions. This handbook not only guides us on how to do things but also inspires each citizen to become a “Green Hero,” working together to build a food-waste-free community. This is a journey of community education, where each individual can start with simple actions: sorting waste at source, saving food, recycling discarded food, contributing to protecting the green planet and spreading the spirit of social responsibility.”

This initiative makes a practical contribution to the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to poverty eradication, responsible consumption and production, climate action, and partnerships for green development. The handbook is expected to become a useful tool to help the Vietnamese community take practical action for the environment, while also demonstrating the commitment to sustainable green cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/van-de-quan-tam/viet-nam-dan-mach-chung-tay-chong-lang-phi-thuc-pham-20251112181154510.htm