According to data from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, every day more than 2,000 tons of plastic waste is discharged into the sea and ocean in Vietnam. Although there are no specific statistics on each type of garbage, it can be imagined that in this huge volume of plastic waste, there are many plastic straws.
Towards a “greener” Vietnam, recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment held an online press conference to launch the campaign “Say no to plastic straws”. This is one of the activities to contribute to Vietnam’s strategy to reduce single-use plastic waste, expressing a common voice with the Government’s goal of responding to plastic waste.
Practical action to solve the problem of plastic waste pollution
Responding to the message from the United Nations, jointly making efforts to reduce plastic waste, the Government of Vietnam actively participated and proposed global and regional cooperation mechanisms on reducing plastic waste at the Summit. G7 summit in Canada, at the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Vietnam in 2018 and the World Economic Forum Davos in 2019. Vietnam also pioneered in implementing many specific action programs to address the issue. plastic waste pollution and received a positive response from the whole society. Up to now, the awareness of people and society about the harmful effects and solutions to reduce the use of plastic bags and pollution from plastic waste has been enhanced. Many initiatives and actions against plastic waste have made drastic changes in production methods and habits of using single-use plastic products.
According to Alphanam Green Foundation – a fund that works for the environment – plastic straws are manufactured from very complex materials, not only waste plastic but sometimes also medical plastic and imported plastic of unknown origin. . These types of plastic, if not handled carefully, can easily cause diseases of the oral cavity for users, even have the risk of cancer. Meanwhile, plastic straws are currently the most common type of plastic waste, ranking 6th among non-biodegradable wastes, and are consumed a lot after nylon bags. This type of waste takes 200-500 years to decompose and the next hundreds, thousands of years to fully biodegrade.
With the “Say no to plastic straws” campaign, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment urges each person to start with a small action of choosing paper straws, rice straws, … instead of plastic straws and gradually will is to completely replace disposable plastic spoons, chopsticks, and containers.
Among the types of straws made from more environmentally friendly materials, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Stainless steel straws, bamboo straws, glass straws … can be reused and suitable for individuals, after use, they need to be cleaned for further use. Straws made from grass, rice flour are disposable and easy to decompose when released into the environment, currently mainly produced by hand.
Paper straws still have certain disadvantages (easy to soften, consumers are not familiar with how to use).
“Say no to plastic straws” to spread the green message
The campaign “Say no to plastic straws” will take place in two phases. Phase one from July to August 2021, is expected to call for cooperation from units, businesses and service providers such as fast food, coffee, cinema, milk tea chain (the The unit uses many plastic straws). The organizers hope to spread the message and inspire action to people and the community in saying no to plastic straws.
Phase 2, which will take place from August to December 2021, will implement activities to respond to “The campaign to make the world cleaner” and at the same time spread and promote the campaign “Say no to plastic straws”, through That expands the object of propaganda to children, students, and schools.
According to the assessment of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam has created a wide community movement, with the simultaneous participation of many businesses (from retail businesses to production and business enterprises). in the air service sector and plastic-emitting manufacturers.
Milk tea straws – OCHAO – HungHau Foods
As an ambassador for the campaign to say no to plastic straws, football player Do Hung Dung and 1st runner-up of Miss Vietnam 2018 Bui Phuong Nga along with representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the company Nestlé Vietnam has called for communities and businesses to reduce plastic waste for a “greener” Vietnam.
On this occasion, the representative of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment also wished that businesses would actively support and give suggestions for the development of decrees to guide the implementation of the Law on Environmental Protection, which will officially take effect. effective from January 1, 2022.
Hung Hau Foods – Hung Hau Food Joint Stock Company, a company specializing in the production and export of fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables, etc. as well as noodle products with nutritional value. In response to environmental protection, Hung Hau Foods has launched a product line of rice straws – branded OCHAO. Not only producing, distributing and selling domestically, but also a key product for export to foreign countries. In order to spread the message of green – clean – safe products for public health and environmental health to people at home and abroad.
Join hands with Hung Hau Foods to protect the environment by using OCHAO rice straws instead of plastic straws.