'No Plastic Bag Month' in Hanoi promotes green consumption and sustainable living

THE HANOI TIMES — “‘No plastic bags!’ is the approach that helps the planet breathe easier, and it makes me happy when customers tell me that,” Do My Linh, a cashier at Lotte Mart in Hanoi, said at the launch of the “No Plastic Bag Month 2025” campaign in the capital city.

The red-uniformed female cashier at Lotte Mart is neatly packing items for customers quickly with reusable bags, which have been favourite options for nylon bags for single-use plastic bags since the store opened in Hanoi two years ago.

"Reusable bags are designed for multiple uses and can be easily washed," Linh told The Hanoi Times, holding up a neatly folded fabric tote. She considers them a meaningful part of the 2025 campaign, which aligns with a growing environmental awareness among consumers.

In response to International Plastic Bag Free Day on July 3, Hanoi and other Vietnamese cities and provinces took action to create a community free of plastic bags.

The 2025 campaign, which began in early July, was jointly held by the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade, and the Vietnam Alliance of Retailers. It has drawn many shops, supermarkets, and trade centers, including Lotte Mart, Central Retail, Aeon Vietnam, MM Mega Market, Coop Mart, and TH True Mart.

This year's campaign, with the slogan "Quick Sorting - Green Consumption - Waste Reduction," aims to raise public awareness about reducing plastic waste and encourage sustainable consumption, according to Le Thi Huong, Director of Lotte Mart West Lake.

"Throughout July, retailers will host interactive activities to encourage customers to adopt low-waste habits, including green-themed photo zones, environmental exhibitions, reusable bag showcases, and recycling-themed games," Huong told The Hanoi Times.

In response, Lotte Mart is scaling up its green efforts by offering reusable bag rentals, using biodegradable packaging, and removing plastic bags from checkouts.

"Lotte Mart takes this occasion to encourage changes in customers’ shopping habits," said Huong.

With a focus on waste sorting, reducing plastic bag usage, and promoting sustainable consumption, this year's event offered engaging, accessible, and inspiring activities.

Nguyen Trung Thang, Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, said that this campaign must start where consumer habits are shaped: supermarkets and retail stores. "Quick Sorting - Green Consumption - Waste Reduction" is not just a slogan, but a call to daily action.

Thang said plastic bags can have long-term consequences for the environment because it takes 500 to 1,000 years for a nylon bag to decompose completely.

The success of the campaign depends on a shift in public behavior and a willingness to adopt more sustainable practices, said Thang. “Government intervention, such as banning the manufacture and import of single-use plastics, is necessary to make the campaign more effective.”

"Plastic is cheap and ubiquitous, but the damage it causes is equally widespread. Every time you say no to plastic, you help build a cleaner and healthier future. By choosing reusable bags, we’re not just changing what we carry, we are changing the way we think,” the deputy director told The Hanoi Times.

Committed to environmental sustainability, Central Retail Vietnam strives to efficiently sort, collect, and recycle plastic waste to reduce its environmental impact. The corporation also consistently encourages customers to bring their own bags or use reusable, eco-friendly ones and provides free boxes for packaging goods.

Meanwhile, Aeon Vietnam continues to promote No Plastic Bag Day, which takes place on the first Monday of the month at cashless checkout counters and is expanding to include all merchandise stores nationwide.

Aeon has a green counter for customers using personal bags and is increasing the use of environmentally friendly materials and 100% biodegradable bags for product packaging.

Retailers are also implementing a rent-a-bag program that allows customers to borrow environmentally friendly bags for a 20 US cents fee, which is fully refunded when the bag is returned.

Vietnamese dairy firm TH has applied modern technologies to reduce the amount of plastic in its packaging and labeling system and has launched many programs to encourage consumers to use canvas bags.

A forum titled "Promoting the Circular Economy in the Retail Sector" will take place at the end of July to provide legal updates and best practices for reducing single-use plastic in retail supply chains.

Nguyen Thi To Nhu, a student at the University of Languages and International Studies at Vietnam National University-Hanoi, expressed her excitement about attending the forum to learn more. She also shared how she has been inspired to embrace eco-friendly practices, such as bringing reusable bags and getting involved in waste reduction projects.

"I see that the campaign is effective in raising public awareness about the harmful effects of single-use plastic bags and encouraging sustainable consumption. People, especially those who are already leading green lifestyles, feel more motivated to contribute to the larger cause when they see campaigns like this," Nhu told The Hanoi Times.