Now in its third year, Viet Nam continues to support the International Plastic Bag Free Day (July 3), a global movement against single-use plastic.
The 2025 campaign, held by the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment and Ha Noi Department of Industry and Trade, is backed by partners such as Unilever Viet Nam, Pacific Environment (PE), the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF), and major retailers including LOTTE Mart, Central Retail, AEON Viet Nam, MM Mega Market, Coopmart, and TH true mart.
Throughout July, these retailers will host interactive activities—from green-themed photo zones and environmental exhibitions to reusable bag showcases and recycling-themed games—encouraging customers to embrace low-waste habits.
A forum titled “Promoting circular economy in the retail sector” will take place at the end of July, providing legal updates and best practices for reducing single-use plastic in retail supply chains.
Retailers like AEON and LOTTE Mart are also scaling up green efforts, such as offering reusable bag rental schemes, using biodegradable packaging, and removing plastic bags at checkouts. MM Mega Market, for instance, has eliminated plastic bags at cashier counters since 2019, helping cut around 10 million bags annually.
“This campaign must start where consumer habits are shaped—retail stores. ‘Sort fast – Shop green – Reduce waste’ is not just a slogan, but a call to daily action,” said Nguyen Trung Thang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment.
