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Decoding common terms and eco-labels on waste management and recycling

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In response to the increased awareness of environmental impacts, businesses are putting labels and claims on their products to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers. With so many claims and “eco-labels” available, it can be challenging to distinguish between products that are “greenwashed” and those that are actually safe for the environment. Our guide on identifying eco-labels will help you make better choices towards a greener future and better health!

Eco-labels have been designed to effectively convey fundamental details regarding recyclable materials, dangerous compounds, and the source of raw resources. But shopping “green” might be complicated! The terms “natural,” “eco-friendly,” and “biodegradable” are often used to describe products. All of these terms are basically useless because there is no formal definition for them. In reality, many businesses purposefully use vague language like this in their marketing efforts to make their products appear better for the environment and you than they actually are. The eco-labels covered in the article below will help customers identify products that are less damaging to the environment and promote better waste management.

 

Recycling symbols

Universal recycling symbol – Wikipedia

The “three chasing arrows” icon, which denotes that a product or packaging can be recycled or contains recycled material, is possibly the most widely recognized recycling symbol. Although products have this recycling symbol to indicate that they include recycled materials or could be recycled, this does not always mean that they can be recycled again. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), for instance, claims that paper can only be recycled five to seven times before it begins to degrade. In the same way, only certain types of plastic can be recycled, and every time plastic is recycled, the polymer chain grows shorter, so its quality decreases.. To improve quality and keep up with newly developed plastics on the market, virgin material must be added to recycled plastic each time it is processed. Therefore, if something is recyclable, it only applies for a short time. One exception is glass, which can be recycled indefinitely without ever losing its quality or purity. 

 

Plastics Identification Code

Plastics – Resin Codes. What do they mean? – 2ea.co.uk

Most plastics have the “three chasing arrows” symbol, which includes three arrows in a triangle with a number in the centre. However, you do not need to memorise all the polymer types for their recyclability as the number just indicates the type of plastic used and does not imply that a product is recyclable. There are seven different types of plastic, and the higher the number, the harder it is to recycle the material. Plastics 1, 2, and 5 can usually be recycled, however 3, 4, 6, and 7 are sometimes more difficult to do so. 

  1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): This type of plastic includes single-use plastic bottles, containers, condiment bottles. It is often turned into more containers, carpets, furniture, fleece and fibre.
  2. High-Density Polyethylene (PE-HD): This is a low weight, high strength plastic used in some retail plastic bags, milk jugs, shampoo bottles, cleaning detergents and soaps, etc. It can be recycled into pipes, pens, detergent or shampoo bottles, oil bottles, floor tiles, lumber, benches, traffic cones, outdoor furniture.
  3. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): You can find this kind of plastic in toys, some food containers and wraps, vinyl siding, blister packs, windows, plastic gloves, water-resistant clothing. The recyclability of this material is limited, accepted by some plastic lumber makers for recycling into decks, panelling, speed bumps, fencing, binders
  4. Low-Density Polyethylene (PE-LD): This includes thin plastic bags used for bread and frozen foods, some plastic containers and cling food wraps, squeezable bottles including toothpaste tubes, furniture. It can be recycled, but you need to check to make sure it’s accepted locally; it can be turned into trash can liners, compost bins, shipping envelopes, and lumber.
  5. Polypropylene (PP): Common products made from this material include straws, yoghurt cups, some food containers, furniture, luggage, toys, medicine bottles, rope. They can be recycled, but check to make sure it’s accepted locally; it can be turned into brooms, brushes, cables, bike racks, rakes, pallets, trays.
  6. Polystyrene (PS): This kind of material can be found in styrofoam containers and cups, some takeout containers, meat trays, egg cartons, and packing peanuts. It is rarely accepted to be recycled, and low demand for recycled styrofoam has limited its acceptance; however it can be turned into insulation, vents, egg cartons, foam packing, takeout containers, rulers.
  7. Miscellaneous: The plastic with this number includes plastics not included in the previous six categories, including BPA, polycarbonate, bio-based plastics such as PLA (polylactic acid), acrylic plastic, fibreglass. You can find those materials in three- and five-gallon water bottles, food containers, sunglasses, bulletproof materials, signs and displays, nylon, baby bottles, sports equipment. It is generally not recyclable, but bio-based plastics can sometimes be composted; some can be turned into plastic lumber.

Pre-consumer and Post-consumer Waste

A product that bears the claim “made from recycled content” may also contain pre- or post-consumer garbage, or even a combination of the two.When a product is made from pre-consumer recycled content, it is made from manufacturing waste that never actually reached consumers. These waste items include scraps, rejects, trimmings, and other items that end up on the factory floor but are reused rather than thrown away. Post-consumer waste, such as the aluminium cans and newspapers you put in your recycling bin for collection, is waste that has been used by a consumer, disposed of, and kept out of landfills. Products with pre- and post-consumer recycled material are far better than those with 0% recycled content, but if you want to choose a more environmentally friendly option, post-consumer recycled is the way to go. Post-consumer plastics divert garbage from landfills and toward recycling facilities, hence lowering the amount of plastic waste. However, recognize that once materials become mixed with varying degrees of recycled content they become increasingly harder to recycle again in the future.

 

Biodegradable and Compostable 

In an effort to minimise the impact on the environment, more and more plastics are marketed as being bio-based, degradable, biodegradable, or compostable. This isn’t as simple as it sounds. The following are a few of the descriptions you could see on bioplastic products, or you can also refer to our Venture Lab definition factsheet for more information:

  1. Bio-based: This refers to the product’s origins, i.e., the fact that it was created using a renewable resource like corn, wheat, potato, coconut, wood, shrimp shells, etc. However, there may only be a little amount of recyclable plastic. They may or may not be compostable or biodegradable. To make sure that biobased plastics are good to the environment in ways other than just reducing the use of fossil fuels, it is crucial to look at their whole life cycle. 
  1. Degradable: This means plastics can break down into tiny pieces that spread throughout the environment. This is pointless since all plastics will ultimately break down, which is undesirable because larger pieces are more difficult for wildlife to mistake for food.
  2. Biodegradable: This refers to the product’s end of life and indicates that it will break down in the environment through the activity of naturally occurring microbes including bacteria, fungus, and algae, albeit it offers no guarantees about not leaving a harmful residue behind. It will break down into gases (CO2), water, residue and biomass and can leave microplastics. ‘Biodegradable’ products may or may not be made from renewable or plant-based resources. It is also unknown in what conditions and for how long it will undergo microbial degradation. Biodegradable does not always mean compostable, but everything that’s compostable is inherently biodegradable.
  3. Compostable: The material will break down within a specified time frame and into non-toxic materials, which will add value to the planet’s ecosystem through nutrient-rich materials. . Compostable products can be categorised to be home-compostable, industry-compostable or both.. Industrially or commercially biodegradable products need higher temperatures and specially designed microbial conditions in order to be turned into usable compost. The majority of compostable materials only break down in commercial composting facilities, so be sure that your area offers this service; if not, you’ll have to toss it in the trash because they can’t be combined with regular plastics. A better alternative is home compostable material; the composting process produces a nutrient-rich soil, similarly as a result of the breakdown of organic waste such as food scraps, grass clippings, leaves, and tea bags. This occurs over a period of months normally in a backyard compost barrel, or a home compost bin.

 

Recycling Certification

Given the information above, consumers should be aware that manufacturers are free to label products with whatever claim they want, including “natural,” “bio-based,” “plant-based,” “biodegradable,” and “compostable.” This causes additional problems by contaminating the regular recycling stream. The more conscientious and responsible ones will obtain certification from a third party, leading to labels like those from the European Bioplastics “Seedling” logo or the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI in North America), etc. These are the 4 popular eco-labels on waste and recycling you can find on plastic alternative products:

BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute)

The BPI offers third-party certification for product and packaging makers as well as brand owners as the top organisation for biodegradable plastics certification in North America. The “BPI Compostable” logo indicates that a package or product has undergone independent testing and verification in accordance with ASTM D6400.

This does not, however, imply that you may dispose of a BPI-certified product in your household compost unless it is specifically indicated. These products have to be delivered to a commercial composting facility, which first reduces the size of the bioplastic before producing high temperatures and maintaining ideal conditions for the breakdown of the material. A caution that says “COMMERCIALLY COMPOSTABLE ONLY / FACILITIES MAY NOT EXIST IN YOUR AREA” is typically included with the BPI Compostable label. Do not recycle bioplastic if your city or town has not built a bioplastic composting facility since it may interfere with regular recycling procedures designed for petroleum-based plastic. 

Seedling 

The Seedling logo is a registered trademark owned by European Bioplastics. It proves that a product is certified industrially compostable according to the European standard EN 13432.

When properly certified, the product will entirely degrade in a commercial composting facility under carefully monitored conditions (such as temperature, moisture, and time), leaving only water, biomass, and carbon dioxide left. The best place to dispose of a product with the Seedling logo is in the organic waste collection. However, the product could be disposed of in the residual waste container if there isn’t a specific pickup for organic waste. 

USDA Certified Biobased Product

The BioPreferred Program was launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2002 to promote the use of biobased products. This initiative, which is a part of the Farm Bill, aims to reduce American dependence on petroleum products while boosting the use of renewable agricultural resources. The USDA Certified Biobased Product label is intended to inform customers about the product’s biobased composition. The product’s label guarantees that it includes a specific level of renewable biological components that has been confirmed by the USDA.

SCS Certified

SCS Global Services is one of the top third-party certification and standards organisations in the world, specialising in everything from clothing and jewellery to green construction and food consumer labelling. Their kingfisher logo may have appeared on product packaging. The “Recycled Content” certification certifies that the packaging meets or exceeds ISO 14021 and FTC Green Guides criteria and is made of pre- and post-consumer recycled material.      

Taking into account the above arguments, the only certain option is to embrace reusables and reject single-use plastics. If you must select a throwaway item, go for one made of a material that is simple to recycle, such metal or glass. If plastic is required, make sure it can be composted at home and was created with biodegradable ingredients.

 

References:

https://www.treehugger.com/recycling-symbols-decoded-4864145

https://www.zenpack.us/blog/decoding-20-common-green-packaging-symbols/

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Domestic waste management in Vietnam: Sorting guide for households

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On January 1, 2022, the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 went into effect with various new regulations regarding domestic waste collection. Particularly, households and individuals who do not segregate their waste will be refused pickup and punished. Accordingly, Evergreen Labs will show you how to effectively sort solid waste at home in order to comply with the law, with the ultimate goal of reducing waste from landfills and, eventually, preventing land, water, and air pollution.

Domestic waste management in Vietnam

According to a national report on solid waste management issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the volume of domestic solid waste in Vietnam increased by 46% between 2010 and 2019, rising from 44,400 tons per day in 2010 to roughly 64,658 tons per day in 2019. Hanoi and HCMC produced over 12,000 tons of domestic solid waste per day in 2019, accounting for approximately 33.6% of all domestic solid waste in urban areas, the report revealed.

Meanwhile, in 2019, the national domestic solid waste collection rate was at 92%, implying that around 8% of all domestic solid waste produced was not collected and was consequently dumped into the environment. A shortage of waste sorting facilities and an inadequate focus on daily waste reduction remain major difficulties in the management of domestic solid waste. Waste treatment including recycling initiatives remains restricted, while the dominant method of waste burial consumes space, harms the environment, and also leads to open pit burning. As the amount of solid waste produced grows, large landfills in cities such as HCMC, Da Nang, and Hanoi have been overburdened, affecting people’s lives. The first and most important step in reversing this dire situation is to separate waste so that it can be handled properly at the source.

On January 1, 2022, the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 went into effect with various new regulations regarding domestic waste collection. According to Clause 2, Article 77 of the Law, daily-life solid waste collection and transport establishments have the right to refuse to collect and transport daily-life solid wastes of households and individuals who do not separate them by type or fail to use the proper packaging, and to notify the competent authority for inspection and handling in accordance with the law. Most recently, Decree No. 45/2022/ND-CP stipulates that violations in domestic waste sorting can result in fines ranging from 500,000 VND (21.4 USD) to 1 million VND (42.8 USD). The new regulation went into force on August 25, 2022. 

Sorting guide for household waste

Clause 1, Article 75 of the Law on Environmental Protection states that daily-life solid waste from households and individuals must be classified as follows: Solid waste capable of being reused or recycled; Food waste; Other domestic solid waste. Evergreen Labs will show you how to effectively sort solid waste at home in order to comply with the law, with the ultimate goal of reducing waste from landfills and, eventually, preventing land, water, and air pollution.

  1.     Solid waste capable of being reused or recycled

Always consider reuse before recycling. Before throwing away used items, consider whether they are worth repurposing for something else, such as selling at second-hand stores, using them for DIY projects, or any other idea that comes to mind. After sorting waste, you can sell it to local waste workers, take it to local collection centers, or send it to collection points where it will be picked up to be recycled. It’s especially crucial to support informal waste workers since they are the unsung heroes on the front lines of recovery and are often seen sifting through waste to gather all tradeable items such as cardboard, metal, and plastic bottles. Another alternative is to send the waste to organizations and individuals who are able to transform your waste into new products. However, the most essential thing is that you rethink before purchasing anything and reduce your consumption, particularly of single-use products.

Now let’s separate this type of waste into 3 categories:

(1)  Paper – discarded paper, newspapers, magazines, receipts, cardboard, drink cartons, and anything else made of paper that’s dry/uncontaminated

Tetra Pak, a Swedish food processing and packaging solutions company, now runs a program to buy and recycle used drink cartons. So far, three organizations, Lagom Vietnam, Tien Thanh Paper, and VECA, have confirmed their participation in the waste collection program. These organizations will purchase papers from waste collectors and sell them to the Dong Tien Paper Factory in Binh Duong. Papers then will be recycled into useful items such as industrial wrapping paper, roofing sheets, and ecological flat sheets. The program’s collection sites are currently located in 862 schools in Hanoi and 75 public locations around the country. The list is shown below.

(2)  Plastic – bottles, plastic bags, wraps, cutlery, and anything else made of plastic (this can include polystyrene food containers that are free of food waste)

In addition to selling discarded items to local waste workers and local collection centers, you can also send waste to collection points where it will be converted into new products. ReForm Plastic is a social enterprise located in Da Nang, aiming to solve the plastic waste crisis by transforming all plastic waste into value, especially up-cycling low-value plastic waste into high-quality, durable, and highly applicable products such as furniture and construction products. In addition, ReForm Plastic has established a number of waste collection and segregation sites, commonly known as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs). The material that cannot be traded, mainly low-value or orphan plastic, gets brought to the ReForm Plastic factories where it is processed into new products. There are currently 6 MRFs across Da Nang and Hoi An cities. ReForm Plastic continues to expand its operation across Vietnam and the beyond as the 9th factory is underway. The collection programs will be included with new factories as needed.

(3) Aluminum/metal (cans, steel utensils, etc.)

All metal cans, including aluminum and steel, are infinitely recyclable, from canned food to soda and aerosol cans. Because metals are nonrenewable natural resources, their supply is limited, which is why it’s critical to recycle your cans. Furthermore, metals may be recycled several times without losing quality. Instead of putting them in your recycling bin, you may sell the cans to waste collectors or bring them straight to the recycling center. Ensure that all cans are free of any liquids or foods that may have been left in the container. 

(4)  Miscellaneous – pack and separate according to these groups:

Consider the ability of certain sorts of waste to be reused, such as glass bottles/ceramic pots that can be used to plant trees, or outdated products that may be swapped with secondhand vendors/stores. If it is damaged or broken, place it in separate bags and carry it to the appropriate waste collection sites, then label the bags for easy identification.

a. Glass/ceramic wares (bottles, pots, etc.)

Glass is packaging that is both reusable and recyclable in an endless loop. Aside from selling to waste collectors or bringing it to a recycling center, it’s worth contacting any glass collection programs in your community. O-I BJC Vietnam Glass Limited, a leading glass container manufacturer in Vietnam, has established several glass collection programs in HCMC, including glass collection hubs, glass collection events, and pick-up services. It is estimated that 14 tons of glass have been collected since the program’s launch in November – 2020, which is equivalent to around 80.000 glass bottles and jars.

b. Electronics (batteries, calculators, phones, wires, cables, light bulbs, and small electrical items) 

In terms of electronic waste, the United Nations defines it as any discarded product that contains hazardous, toxic, and corrosive materials like mercury, cadmium, lithium, and lead, which can endanger human and environmental health. You can sell your old or broken device to used electronic purchasers or return it to your original point of sale if such a service is available. Still, you can collect batteries for recycling, and numerous collection locations are mentioned below.

In addition, Vietnam Recycles is a free electronic waste take-back and recycling program initiated by electronic manufacturers. All used electronic devices collected through this program will be safely processed in order to achieve maximum recovery rate of natural resources and ensure a professional electronic waste disposal process that meets the standards prescribed by regulations of environmental law.

c. Fabric/shoes/rubber/leather (T-shirts, handbags, sneakers, rubber gloves, etc.) 

Consider clothes recycling before tossing your garments in the trash. Depending on the condition of the clothes, there are several options to recycle them, ranging from donating to selling to upcycling. Donating may be the most obvious way to recycle clothes, whether for friends, family, or underprivileged communities. Old garments can also be repurposed; for example, a worn-out shirt or sweater can be turned into a pillow cover, or old blankets and flannel sheets might be turned into a pet bed.

  1.     Food waste

Food waste is categorized as wet waste. Examples include fruit peels, leftovers, vegetable skins, undercooked food, and coffee or tea powder. Wet waste can also include garden waste like leaves and twigs. Install a drum, container, or bin for such waste to be deposited in order for it to be turned into rich organic compost. You can also create animal feed out of them. Wet and dry waste must be separated because dry waste must be uncontaminated in order to be recycled.

  1. Other domestic solid waste:

Other types of domestic solid waste are non-recyclables, such as food, and soiled/wet materials like used diapers and tissues. Sanitary waste includes adult and baby diapers, synthetic sanitary napkins, hygiene items, and dirty napkins. Linens, bedding, things tainted with blood or other fluids, dirty plaster casts, and other forms of dressing are classified as medical waste. Medical and sanitary waste must be burned, microwaved, or autoclaved to prevent disease transmission. These types of waste must be packaged, labeled, and given to entities that collect and transport daily-life solid waste to be properly processed.

Waste collection points

For many types of recyclable waste

HCMC:

1) GreenPoints Vietnam: 214/19/6E, Nguyễn Văn Nguyễn Street, Tân Định Ward, District 1

Ha Noi:

1) Green Life – A9, 128C Đại La Street, Đồng Tâm ward, Hai Bà Trưng district

Da Nang:

1) Green Da Nang: 129/80 Tiểu La Street, Hòa Cường Bắc Ward, Hải Châu District

2) MRF Khuê Mỹ: Opposite 39 Mai Thúc Lân street, Khuê Mỹ Ward, Ngũ Hành Sơn District

Hoi An:

1) MRF Tân Thành: Opposite Sound of Silence Café – 40 Nguyễn Phan Vinh Street, Tân Thành

2) MRF Tân An: Opposite the Department of Education & Training of Hoi An City – 56 Nguyễn Công Trứ Street, Tân An

3) MRF Cẩm Châu: At Bà Lê Market, Lê Thánh Tông Street, Cẩm Châu

4) MRF Cẩm Hà: At Cẩm Hà Kindergarten, Đoàn Kết Street, Cẩm Hà

5) MRF Cẩm Nam: 14 Lê Trung Đình Street, Cẩm Nam

 

For papers and drink cartons:

862 schools and 75 public collection points across Vietnam: See here

 

For batteries:

HCMC:

1) People’s Committee of Ward 15, District 4 – 132 Tôn Thất Thuyết, Ward 15, District 4

2) People’s Committee of Ward 17, Phú Nhuận District – 22 Nguyễn Văn Trỗi, Ward 17, Phú Nhuận District

3) People’s Committee of Ward 2, Bình Thạnh District – 14 Phan Bội Châu, Ward 2, Bình Thạnh District

4) People’s Committee of Ward 9, District 3 – 82 Bà Huyện Thanh Quan, Ward 9, District 3

5) MM Mega Market An Phú Center – Area B, New Urban Area An Phu – An Khánh, An Phú Ward, District 2

6) Hanel Trading Company – 260A Điện Biên Phủ, Ward 7, District 3

7) Canon Lê Bảo Minh Service Center – 95B-97-99 Trần Hưng Đạo, District 1

8) BK Solar Company – 47 Lê Văn Thịnh, District 2

9) GO Supermarket District 7 – 99 Nguyễn Thị Thập, Tân Phú Ward, District 7

 

Ha Noi:

1) Cultural House of Nghĩa Tân Ward – 45 Nghĩa Tân Street, Nghĩa Tân Ward, Cầu Giấy District

2) Environmental Protection Sub-Department – ​​17 Trung Yên 3 (former location is Cultural house of Yên Hòa ward, Trung Kính street)

3) People’s Committee of Quán Thánh Ward – 157 Đội Cấn Street, Đội Cấn Ward, Ba Dinh District

4) Thành Công Ward People’s Committee – 9 Thành Công Street, Thành Công Ward, Ba Dinh District

5) Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities – 336 Nguyễn Trãi, Thanh Xuan Trung Ward, Thanh Xuan District

6) People’s Committee of Tràng Tiền Ward, Hoàn Kiếm District – 02 Cổ Tân, Tràng Tiền Ward, Hoàn Kiếm District

7) Hanel Trading Company – No. 2 Chùa Bộc, Láng hạ Ward, Đống Đa District

8) Canon Le Bao Minh Service Center – 130A Giảng Võ, Ba Đình

9) Pin hà Nội – 14 alleys 6 lanes 106 Hoàng Quốc Việt Street

Da Nang:

1) GO Danang Supermarket – 257 Hùng Vương Street, Vĩnh Trung Ward, Thanh Khê District

2) The Books – 12 Cao Thắng Street, Hải Châu District

3) “Battery house” boxes along Hoàng Văn Thụ Street, Hải Châu District

 

For glasses:

HCMC:

District 1:

1) ANNAM GOURMET Saigon Center – Basement 2, Log 11/12, Saigon Centre Building, 65 Lê Lợi Street, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1

2) ANNAM GOURMET Hai Bà Trưng – 16-18   Hai Bà Trưng Street, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1

3) Xanh Cà phê và cơm – 55 Nguyễn Khắc Nhu Street, District 1

District 2:

1) ANNAM GOURMET An Phú – 41 Thảo Điền Street, Thảo Điền Ward, District 2

2) ANNAM GOURMET Estella Place – 88 Song Hành Street, An Phú Ward, District 2

3) Thảo Điền Eco Wellness –  8C 12 Street, Thảo Điền Ward, District 2

District 7:

1) ANNAM GOURMET Riverpark Premier –  64-70   Nguyễn Đức Cảnh Street, Tân Phong Ward, District 7

Bình Thạnh District:

1) Ngách 160 Café –  160/29 Bùi Đình Túy Street, Ward 12, Q.Bình Thạnh 

2) ANNAM GOURMET Saigon Pearl –  Opal Tower, Shophouse SH06-07, 92 Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh Streer, Bình Thạnh District

3) Liên Kết Xanh Store – 8 Nguyễn Huy Lượng Street, 14 Ward, Bình Thạnh District

Bình Tân District:

1) Vườn Nắng Outdoor Cafe – 144 Street 1A, Bình Hưng Hòa B, Bình Tân District

Củ Chi District:

1)  3A An Nhơn Tây Street, Củ Chi District

 

References:

https://changevn.org/phan-loai-rac-dung-cach/

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Embracing circular economy in Vietnam and beyond: Lessons learned from innovators

In response to accelerating climate change, the circular economy has spurred businesses to solve environmental challenges—where waste is eliminated, resources are recycled, and nature is regenerated. Here are some pioneering solutions using circular business models in Vietnam and the region, pushing the boundaries of the present linear value chain toward a sustainable system of production and consumption.

Mismanaged plastic waste is our generation’s most devastating environmental crisis. In the Asia-Pacific region, 87,000,000 metric tons of plastic are consumed annually, with 25% of plastic recycled and 65,250,000 metric tons of plastic remaining damaging the planet. The increased use of single-use plastics and waste mismanagement is clearly harming the environment, threatening biodiversity and natural ecosystems, and contributing to climate change. Moving away from a linear economy to a circular economy in which waste is eliminated, resources are recycled, and nature is regenerated is critical in these times of severe environmental threats. To accomplish this transformation, businesses rely on three circular economy principles: (1) designing out waste and pollution, (2) extending product life, and (3) regenerating natural systems. These strategies enable businesses to save costs, improve their reputation, and develop new products and markets. However, many businesses have encountered tremendous challenges when implementing a circular business model in a linear economy world. Let’s look at the stories of six businesses in Vietnam and beyond that are using the circular economy to tackle plastic pollution and climate change.

  1.     NÜ

NÜ was created in 2012 in response to the ever-growing cry for ethical, conscious, and sustainable products within the self-care and hygiene industry. The business develops a wide range of sustainable products, including plastic-free straws and cutlery, biodegradable box tape, and bamboo-pulp nappies, using renewable materials. The packaging is also made of sustainable GMX[1] material, which is fully biodegradable and compostable.

NÜ’s circular strategy involves the use of renewable and recycled resources in production processes, allowing for the partial or entire elimination of waste and pollution from the start. NÜ ensures that all products are recyclable and that all discarded materials are recycled. By mixing alternative materials with plastic-free biodegradable GMX resin, used products degrade in nature within two years, leaving no harmful residue and not releasing dioxin when incinerated. The bioagent contains chitosan and other natural additives which will trigger the reaction of many bacteria to decompose and accelerate the process of biodegradation, solving the issue with discarded items in the environment. However, one of the greatest challenges in adopting a circular economy is waste collection services, hence NÜ focuses mostly on businesses or organizations with high use per location to save CO2 in transportation.

NÜ managed to achieve accreditation through Aqua Enviro for the disposal of used straws and cutlery into the food waste stream, which can then be used to generate energy; the products are certified aerobic and anaerobic digestible. NÜ is now operating in England and Singapore, with plans to expand further throughout South East Asia as a responsible and trustworthy Eco champion in the near future.

  1. Tien Duc Straw

Tien Duc Straw is a social enterprise based in Hanoi, Vietnam that produces wooden straws from trees grown in man-made forests. After being taken from production forests, trees are chopped into pieces, peeled off by the machine, and rolled into straws. Tien Duc wooden straws are made from high-quality wood and are great eco-friendly alternatives to plastic straws. The wooden straws are biodegradable and 100% natural, eliminating plastic waste from production and product packaging and guaranteeing that it does not exist in the first place.

By producing products made from man-made forests, Tien Duc contributes to one of the essential circular economy principles – regenerating resource loops, and improving the environment that the business utilizes for its operations and commercial use. By storing carbon, forests, like the seas, play a critical role in regulating global climate and local weather systems. Forest degradation releases significant volumes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere (through burning), and also eliminates a carbon sink from the ecosystem. According to the UN, the best way of saving a forest is to manage it sustainably and to benefit from its products and ecosystem services. Tien Duc Straw wants to perpetuate the man-made forest life cycle by using it to provide important, recyclable products while also contributing to helping people that rely on the forests for a living.

Tien Duc Straw strives to promote closed-looped consumption in the food and beverage and hospitality sectors. Despite certain challenges, such as altering consumers’ mindsets and habits, they are working relentlessly to increase communications and education with target customers in order to transition from plastic straws to more sustainable alternatives.  Tien Duc is expanding its visibility in Vietnam and has exported its products to other Asian and European countries.

  1.     ReForm Plastic

Developed and established in Danang, Vietnam, ReForm Plastic is a social business focused on solving the plastic waste challenge through an inclusive and circular approach that converts plastic waste into durable, technical, premium products through a unique and proven process.

ReForm Plastic is working toward a world where used plastics are managed as valuable material resources rather than as wastes to be cheaply or indiscriminately discarded. Its process is value-added, replicable, and cost-effective that processes all types of plastic discarded such as single-use items, wrappers, multilayers, flexibles, and styrofoam to convert them into a tradable, commodity board product. These end-products are durable, and waterproof and can be used as a wood replacement for furniture and construction. The approach is fully circular, ReForm Plastic can take back old products and process them again as endless products. ReForm Plastic aims to address the core issues across the value chain fully integrating into existing systems with the informal waste collectors, infrastructure, and programs and replicating its model through collaboration and a social franchise approach. It is dramatically changing the way we view the resource we call ‘waste’ and are shifting toward a circular economy system.

ReForm Plastic as a technology, material, and process innovator has built a long-standing reputation among partners and collaborators throughout the region over the past 6 years. Currently, ReForm Plastic has 8 factories operating or under construction in 6 countries across Asia and beyond through an innovative social franchising model. To date, it has processed over 150,000 kg of low-value plastics across our factories; produced over 1000 sqm of boards, and built 6 collection points across Hoi An and Danang cities.

  1.     iBAG

iBAG, a brand within HRK Group, an import-export, distributor, and manufacturer of environmentally friendly packaging solutions, provides 100% biodegradable, compostable, and water-soluble packaging sourced and made in Vietnam using cassava starch and biopolymers. iBAG strives to combat plastic pollution by producing sustainable flexible packaging (carry bags, polybags, rubbish bags, vacuum bags, etc.). It provides an upstream solution that produces no waste during the process. The end-of-life products will degrade quickly and safely in both landfills and marine environments, protecting wildlife, and it does not create chemical or microplastic pollution poisoning our land.

iBAG uses several circular business strategies, such as reusing materials and reviving natural resources utilized in manufacturing processes. In addition, certain iBAG products use waste as a local resource, such as bagasse boxes made of sugar cane waste.

So far, iBAG’s greatest accomplishment has been the development of a new form of material that covers all post-consumer end-of-life alternatives, including biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, water-soluble, and even edible. They have successfully supplied the products to many well-known customers in Vietnam and beyond, with an estimated 8.5 million eco-friendly flexible packaging produced, and over 785,500 kg of plastic waste replaced. The most difficult challenge to iBAG is persuading consumers to spend a little more money on packaging in order to protect the future for the next generations in the face of serious plastic pollution and climate change.

  1.     Teo Straw

Teo Straw was founded in 2019 in Kien Giang, Vietnam, and produces straws from natural plants, primarily eagle grass and reed grass. It offers an alternative to plastic straws while also providing local jobs in rural areas. Teo Straw was born out of the founder’s diverse experiences, from his childhood drinking from coconuts using grasses to his adulthood traveling across the world and observing the destructive impact of plastic on the environment and human health.

Teo Straws aims to produce disposable, eco-friendly drinking straws to replace plastic straws, utilizing natural resources to create products with sustainability. The production process is a closed cycle that is eco-friendly and strictly controlled, resulting in no contamination of water and land during and after production. The raw materials are wild plants in areas that are not available for farming and as the plants have a short life span, harvesting causes a minimal negative impact on the ecosystem. Furthermore, since raw materials account for 70% of the final product, energy usage during production is extremely minimal. Teo Straw ensures that no hazardous waste to the environment is produced, that no chemicals are needed, and that water and waste from production can be used for farming, thereby creating a circular flow of resources.

After three years, Teostraw has been able to mass produce the straws. During the Covid-19 hardest hits in 2020, and 2021, it successfully supplied the straws to several markets such as Germany, Singapore, New Zealand, etc. All of the products are qualified for the EU and US markets.

  1.     Glassia

Glassia is a social enterprise providing water in reusable glass bottles, completely eliminating plastic from the water consumption value chain, in order to create local, circular, plastic-free bottled water products and services. The first Glassia facility was piloted in Danang, Vietnam, and began its operations in March 2021.

Glassia transforms the linear water bottling value chain into a circular system of “re-collection – sterilization – refill” through an integrated, local, and decentralized model of glass bottling facilities. It produces and distributes high-quality fully ISO and HACCP certified drinking water in glass bottles, as well as delivers and re-collects the bottles locally, reducing costs and enabling businesses to transition to reuse models.  After reaching year 1 targets, Glassia has increased production and can fill up to 5 million bottles annually which is offsetting 1044 tons of carbon emission per factory.

Glassia’s key customers are sustainability-focused organizations and businesses seeking alternative products to plastic, including hotels, resorts, restaurants, banquet halls, offices, etc. Glassia is currently providing its services to various restaurant chains and hospitality groups in the Danang and Hoi An area including the Radisson, Hyatt, Hoiana, Premier Village, Novotel, and Pizza 4Ps.

One of the biggest challenges in the early stages of Glassia’s establishment is that Vietnamese consumers are still unfamiliar with the concepts of circular economy and sustainable consumption. Water plastic bottles are convenient to carry and may be affordable for them. Changing this habit seems to be hard, but it does not mean impossible. Glassia offers a solution that eliminates plastic waste at the source, and with the modern and educational branding, Glassia triggers consumers to consider circularity and its impact on the environment. Currently, Glassia plans large expansion across Vietnam and beyond to bring this circular, affordable option to various regions and directly eliminate the use of plastic. 

When the circular economy is the future, businesses should begin adopting circular economy business models, piloting initiatives, and developing a transition strategy using the circular economy concept as a key driver today in order to remain competitive in the future.

 

(*) ReForm Plastic and Glassia are two social enterprises established and developed by Evergreen Labs.

NÜ, Tien Duc Straw, iBAG and Teo Straw are the pioneering solutions selected for the cohort of the “Plastic-free F&B Piloting Program” implemented by Venture Lab.

[1] GMX™  is derived from a natural, non-toxic, and sustainable marine material – Calcium from Oyster Shells Source: https://www.listengreen.com.tw/gmx-technology (Accessed on 19th July 2022).

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Why is the circular economy the future? – From triple bottom line perspectives

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Our economy is now stuck in a system that favors a linear model of production and consumption, exacerbating the climate crisis and jeopardizing human life and the planet we all rely on. Circularity, however, is infiltrating the linear economy because its benefits are obvious and span three areas: environmental, social, and economic. A circular economy, in contrast to the linear ‘take-make-waste’ model, is regenerative by design and aims to gradually sever the link between growth and finite resource consumption. Let’s learn why a circular economy would be a good investment for the future by looking at its benefits from triple bottom line perspectives.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

  •       Carbon dioxide emissions reduction

The circular economy plays an indispensable role in addressing the climate crisis. It proposes a strategy that not only uses renewable energy but also changes how things are built and utilized. It has the potential to cut world CO2 emissions from cement, steel, plastics, and aluminum manufacturing by 40%, or 3.7 billion tons, by 2050, accomplishing over half of their net-zero emissions goal.   

  •       Primary material consumption reduction

By 2030, the circular economy may reduce primary material consumption by 32% (i.e. automotive and building materials, real estate land, synthetic fertilizer, pesticides, agriculture usage, fuels, and non-renewable power). This helps to avoid the severe resource depletion, waste, and pollution produced by our existing linear economy’s production and consumption patterns.

  •       Land productivity and soil health improvement

As opposed to a linear economy, a circular economy may enable increased land productivity, reduced waste in the food value chain, and the return of nutrients to the soil, all of which increase the value of land and soil as assets. Regenerative farming practices may improve soil health, allowing it to offer critical habitats for microorganisms at the start of the food chain, such as fungus and insects, as well as the animals that rely on them. 

SOCIAL BENEFITS

  •       Health improvement

Circularity encourages the use of non-toxic, natural materials and processes that improve ecosystems, protecting water, air, and soil quality, and hence human health. By 2050, a circular economy for food, stimulated by cities, is expected to save 290,000 lives per year that would otherwise be lost to outdoor air pollution.

  •       Social equity enhancement

Waste workers in emerging economies are disproportionately affected by waste and pollution. A circular economy that employs effective waste management techniques and incorporates waste workers into the process, as well as effective recycling methods, can help poor countries produce jobs. In terms of gender, by addressing waste and pollution, a circular economy may also help in the alleviation of gender inequality caused by these factors in a linear economy. As a matter of fact, women are at a higher risk of plastic-related toxicity since they’re exposed to more plastic reception and even in feminine care products.

ReForm Plastic, a social business transforming waste into value, brings more opportunities to local collectors through employment and increased income streams. (Photo: Evergreen Labs)
  •       Job creation potential

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), changes in energy production, such as the creation of renewable energy, increased efficiency, the adoption of electric cars, and improved building efficiency, can result in a net gain of 18 million jobs worldwide. Increased expenditure fueled by lower prices; high-quality, labor-intensive recycling operations; and higher-skilled occupations in remanufacturing are all factors contributing to this positive impact on employment. From social perspectives, individuals in communities who are given the opportunity to work can help to alleviate poverty and reduce world hunger.

ECONOMIC BENEFITS

  •       Economic growth

Waste generation is reduced in a circular economy through careful product design and an industrial process in which resources are continually circulated in a “closed-loop system.” Through more productive input usage, emerging circular activities will help raise profits and cut production costs. These changes in input and output of economic production activities will impact supply, demand, and prices across the economy, contributing to total economic growth. 

Glassia, a social business in Vietnam, transforms the linear water bottling value chain into closed-loop systems through an integrated, local and decentralized model of glass bottling facilities. (Photo: Glassia)
  •       Material cost savings

The circular economy may save up to USD 630 billion per year in the EU alone in the medium-life complex product sectors, which include devices like mobile phones, washing machines, and autos. Moreover, the analysis found an extra USD 700 billion cost-cutting opportunity for the FMCG business on a global scale.

  •       Innovation promotion

The desire to replace linear products and processes with circular ones offers tremendous creative potential. Using more sustainable ways may be slightly more expensive, but it may drive innovation and improve business reputations. Higher rates of technical progress, superior materials, labor, energy efficiency, and greater profit prospects for companies are all advantages of a more innovative economy.

For more information, please refer to Ellen Macarthur Foundation: The Circular Economy in Detail. 

In the next article, we will explain how local businesses, including ours, are implementing circular economy approaches, demonstrating the circular economy in action.

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“Adaptation saves life. Delay means death.” – Five key takeaways from the 2022 IPCC Report

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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Sixth Assessment Report (6AR) on February 28, 2022, which examines the vulnerability of ecosystems and human societies to climate change and discusses adaptation possibilities. In comparison to earlier assessments, this report emphasizes social justice, the necessity for urgent action, and the diversity of knowledge sources from indigenous and local people.  “A liveable and sustainable future for all” – What’s at risk is spelled clearly in the report’s final words.

Here are five takeaways from the report:

  1. Climate change causes unquestionable health consequences  

Climate change is already wreaking havoc on people’s physical and mental health, with half of humanity already facing water scarcity and billions more facing excessive heat, vector-borne illnesses, and starvation as a result of global warming. Heat stress affects one out of every three persons, and the number is expected to rise to 50% to 75% by the end of the century. Every year, half a million more people are at danger of major floods, and by 2050, a billion people living along coasts will be vulnerable.

In North America, the report warns that more extreme weather, such as storms and wildfires, would result in more deaths and physical and mental disorders. Australia suffers “increases in heat-related mortality and morbidity for people and wildlife,” while small island communities fear “destruction.” In Central and South America, “severe health effects due to increasing epidemics” are anticipated, particularly from diseases spread by insects and other animals. One of Asia’s greatest hazards is floods, while Africa is plagued by hunger as a result of climate change’s impact on agriculture.

 “People around the world are already suffering from the impacts of climate change at 1.1C of warming,” said Emily Shuckburgh, director of Cambridge Zero at the University of Cambridge. “Beyond 1.5C would put peace, security, economic stability and nature in peril across our planet and be an existential threat for far too many.” 

  1. Some things will be irretrievably gone

Although the report focuses on adaptation options, the message is clear: many damages and losses are now or are on the verge of becoming irreversible. Human-caused climate change is wreaking “increasingly irreversible losses, in terrestrial, freshwater and coastal and open ocean marine ecosystems”. Even if global warming stays below 1.6 degrees C by 2100, 8% of today’s farmland will be climatically unfit, just as the world’s population reaches 9 billion people. While the report states that protecting wild places and wildlife is critical to addressing the climate crisis, animals and plants are being exposed to climatic conditions not seen in tens of thousands of years. Half of the species studied have been forced to relocate, and many are on the verge of extinction.

Glacier retreat and changes to Arctic and mountain ecosystems from thawing permafrost are also “approaching irreversibility” impacts. According to the report, by 2050, at least one billion people would be at danger of losing their homes due to storms exacerbated by rising seas.

  1. We can adapt to a certain extent

The 4,000-page research highlights a variety of climate-change adaptation options, including innovative and practical methods to increase food and water security and conserve ecosystems. The report indicates that adaptation is integrated in climate policies and planning procedures in at least 170 nations and numerous cities. Adaptation has the potential to increase agricultural production, innovation, health, food security, livelihoods, and biodiversity protection.

However, current adaptation efforts, including private climate investment, are insufficient to avert or effectively manage rising climate hazards. Adaptation programs are not evenly spread regionally, and they are chronically underfunded, according to the report. Worse, we “cannot eliminate” all losses and damages even with adequate finance and management.

Because the scale of suffering would be significantly reduced if the temperature increase was maintained close to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the report shows that unless the emissions that cause climate change fall “rapidly,” societies’ adaptation choices will become “increasingly limited.”

“Adaptation saves lives,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said with the report’s release. “As climate impacts worsen – and they will – scaling up investments will be essential for survival… Delay means death.”

  1. The poorest are the most vulnerable

Climate change affects everyone, yet not everyone is affected equally. Timon McPhearson, an urban ecologist at The New School in New York and one of the report’s 270 authors, stated, “It’s the poor and most marginalized who are most vulnerable.” People in developing countries in Africa, South Asia, and tiny island nations, as well as marginalized populations in wealthier countries like the United States, fall into this category.

Currently, up to 3.6 billion people live in are “highly vulnerable to climate change,” a statistic that is expected to climb. Climate “losses and damages” are “strongly concentrated among the poorest vulnerable populations,” according to the report, who are the least accountable for the crisis. Some impacts already have a disproportionately high toll in some areas, with mortality from floods, droughts, and storms 15 times greater in highly vulnerable countries than in low-vulnerability countries during the last decade. Malnutrition has already grown in many communities, especially “among indigenous peoples, smallholders, and low-income households, with children and pregnant women particularly impacted.” 

The report also makes it obvious that coping with the climate crisis is a social as well as a scientific issue. Action that tackles “inequities such as those based on gender, ethnicity, disability, age, location and income” is the greatest method to provide effective and long-term protection from climate catastrophe. It claims that solutions must incorporate social justice and include indigenous peoples, minorities, and the impoverished.

  1. Every increment of global warming matters

The report was released three months after COP26, emphasizing the need for measures to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial levels. According to the report, “losses and damages escalate with every increment of global warming” implying that any effort to reduce emissions or adapt is crucial. Limiting global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius would not avert, but will significantly decrease, damages to environment, society, and economy.

In order to reduce heating and make cities more walkable, natural vegetation, trees, and green walls and roofs may be put into urban areas. Building efficiency requirements can be enshrined in legislation to aid in the transformation of urban planning and the reduction of energy expenditures. Rivers can be restored to their original condition by eliminating man-made dams and other artificial features, providing flood protection to new habitats and sustainable livelihoods to vulnerable populations. To increase biodiversity, regenerative farming approaches can be used.

The IPCC scientists said the end of the century is less than a generation away, with a kid born today turning 78 in 2100: “Actions taken now will have a profound effect on the quality of our children’s lives.”

“We can prevent and protect ourselves from extreme weather, famines, health problems and more by cutting emissions and investing in adaptation strategies,” said Christiana Figueres, former UN climate chief and now at the Global Optimism group. “The science and the solutions are clear. It’s up to us how we shape the future.”

For more information about the IPCC report refer to the full text copy here and for more climate-inspired topics follow Evergreen Labs on social media channels!

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Why should we act urgently to transition away from a linear economy?

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While the world has to secure enough resources to meet the needs of 10 billion people by 2050, the current linear economy not only fails to provide resources sustainably, but it also exacerbates the climate emergency, putting human life and the planet we rely on in jeopardy.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of a climate emergency in its most recent 2022 report. Due to the growing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods and storms, and forest fires, certain countries may be entirely wiped out by climate change unless urgent action is taken.  In reality, with the current average global warming of 1.1 degrees C, these phenomena have been and are happening more often. In this context, the current linear economy is firmly steering us towards a 1.5 degree increase of global warming – the worst case of climate change – by increasing global emissions and depleting resources in the face of a growing population. So, what is a linear economy and how does it contribute to the worsening of the climate emergency? Let’s find out with Evergreen Labs.

The “Take-make-waste” pattern

The traditional linear economy is based on a recurrent “take-make-waste” pattern. This implies that raw materials are extracted and produced, then turned into a product and consumed until it is discarded, regardless of whether or not it can be reused or recycled. This economy defines value as manufacturing as many products as possible to generate profits, and the environment is viewed as an eternally free resource for human consumption. The economy generates a substantial amount of undesired, and often toxic, landfill waste while also adding to the shortage of raw resources. Every year, the world generates 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste, with at least 33% of it not being managed in an environmentally safe way, while the current global economy is only 8.6% circular. 

A kid picks up trash in the midst of a large waste dump. Photo: Unsplash.

Why is a linear economy unsustainable?

  1.     Resource depletion

According to Michelini et al., the current linear socioeconomic system is defined by the destruction of the product at the end of its service life, which is one of the primary causes of severe resource depletion. This is understandable; given there has been a nearly 1:1 link between economic growth and the use of natural resources since the commencement of the first industrial revolution. According to UNEP, worldwide natural resource extraction has more than tripled since the 1970s, and by 2060, global material use might double to 190 billion tonnes (from 92 billion), while greenhouse gas emissions could rise by 43%. While increasing resource efficiency is beneficial, our present and predicted extraction rates are heavily driven by rising consumption and our reliance on single-use products and packaging derived from limited natural resources, such as fossil fuels. As a result, we would need the regeneration capacity of 1.75 Earths to provide the natural resources and ecological services required to sustain our present consumption patterns. 

  1.     Biodiversity loss

Deforestation, agriculture, and mining that necessitate the extraction of raw materials are all harming our planet’s ecosystems. According to research conducted by the UN Environment, extraction––a crucial component of our linear economy––is blamed for biodiversity loss. As forests and swamps are destroyed for cropland that requires irrigation, land use change – mostly for agriculture – contributes to more than 80% of biodiversity loss and 85% of water stress. The IPCC 2022 report also stresses that even if warming exceeds 1.5 degrees C for a few decades, it will have significant and permanent consequences for ocean ecosystems and biodiversity. Moreover, the changing environment causes an increase in natural catastrophes and pollution, both of which endanger people’s lives. For example, the inhabitants of Mekong Delta Vietnam have suffered from drought and salt water intrusion as a result of the disastrous impacts of sea water seeping farther inland through rivers. 

A farmer walks across her cracked field in Ben Tre Province, Mekong Delta, owing to severe drought. Photo: VnExpress.
  1.     Waste and pollution

Waste, at the end of a linear value chain, contributes directly to greenhouse gas emissions and our climatic issue. Almost 50% of the emissions that contribute to climate change are caused by the production and consumption of daily items. When freight transport emissions and energy usage in non-residential buildings are included in, the number jumps to 70% of total global emissions. Aside from taking up otherwise productive land, the waste pile exacerbates the issue by supporting bacteria that flourish in an oxygen-free environment. As the bacteria break down the waste, they emit carbon dioxide and methane, with methane being 84 times more effective as a global warming agent than carbon dioxide in the first 20 years of its release. Today, the world generates more than 2 billion tons of solid waste, with that figure anticipated to rise to 3.4 billion tons by 2050. Global waste produced within our linear economy is made up of 44% food and organics, 17% paper, and 12% plastic––all of which may be useful in a circular economy. 

  1.     Environmental injustice

According to the UN study, people in rich countries consume 9.8 tonnes of resources each year, the equivalent of two elephants, which is 13 times more than those in low-income countries. However, to meet the increased demand for consumption of a linear economy, the low-income group is being treated unequally. We are witnessing alarming issues such as underpaid and overworked labor, inadequate waste management in underprivileged communities, and political conflict due to resource exploitation. Notably, plastic pollution disproportionately affects vulnerable groups and communities who live near plastic production and disposal sites, leading to environmental injustice. The latest IPCC report warns us of how the climate crisis is impacting humans, especially the vulnerable groups, estimating that up to 3.6 million people are now highly vulnerable to climate change. Vulnerable population groups in the most vulnerable locations (especially in East, Central, and West Africa, South Asia, Micronesia and Melanesia, and Central America) require adaptation the most urgently. These regions face several issues, including high levels of poverty, a considerable number of people without access to essential services like water and sanitation, wealth and gender inequities, and governance challenges. Furthermore, the direct and indirect repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated inequalities throughout societies, increasing existing vulnerabilities to climate change and restricting vulnerable groups’ ability to adapt.

In the next articles, EGL will offer some ideas for moving away from the linear economy, as well as how we are experimenting with new, innovative, circular models in our venture studio.

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Tet holiday and conscious consumerism in the new normal

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A special Tet season is approaching. Consumers are buying ahead of schedule to prepare for another year of coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the seasonal shopping booms and pandemic-related safety warnings, the subject of conscious consumerism is more important than ever to highlight.

Conscious consumerism, also known as ethical consumerism or responsible consumerism is a buying behavior that benefits the environment, society, and economy. To put it another way, consumers do not merely buy based on the product, but also on the process of creating that product as well as the business’s ethical compass – not sacrificing the well-being of people, animals, or the environment for the sake of profits. Consumers that support conscious consumerism help to protect the environment while also preventing worker exploitation, child labor, and animal abuse.

A survey conducted by the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) in 2021 reported that 90% of 14,000 consumers in nine countries think that the COVID-19 pandemic affected their views on environmental sustainability. Moreover, according to Nielsen’s 2019 Business Sustainability Report, up to 86% of consumers in Vietnam are willing to pay higher for products and services that come from companies that are committed to positive social and environmental impacts, compared to 76% of consumers in the Asia Pacific.

The demand for purchasing for worshipping activities, parties, or house renovations spikes around the Tet holiday, resulting in a massive quantity of waste being discharged into the environment, with disposable packaging accounting for a substantial proportion. During the previous Tet, Hanoi city processed over 35,600 tons of waste, and the volume of waste is believed to grow substantially in the days leading up to Tet. Furthermore, keeping Tet practices and rituals, such as scattering votive papers or releasing fish (including plastic bags) into the river to carry the Kitchen Gods back to heaven, pollutes the environment. Another issue exacerbated by unconscious consumption is the massive volume of food waste following Tet. As a result, in addition to the actions of the government and businesses, consumers play an important role in promoting sustainable consumption. Here are a few tips from Evergreen Labs on how to shop for a safe, healthy, and sustainable Tet.

  1.       Be a conscious & minimalist first

Before making any purchasing decisions, ask yourself questions about the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle). Don’t just mindlessly browse online shopping platforms and load your shopping basket just to have a stress-free Tet. Start buying just the items you found to be essential or those with long-term value; you can also reuse items or buy second-hand ones, or you can recycle items to give them a second chance at life. You can also support businesses that adopt a circular economy model, in which products are utilized until the end of their lifecycle. The circular economy, in particular, can assist Vietnam in reducing the pressure on post-pandemic solid waste management. ReForm Plastic‘s recycled plastic waste furniture, plant pots, wall paintings, and other Tet decorations, as well as Glassia‘s reusable and refillable glass bottles for reunion parties, are all fantastic ideas. Carrying bags, containers, and not using single-use plastic are also the most practical ways to contribute to a zero-waste Tet season.

  1.       Go for sustainable and ethical brands

As a conscious consumer, you don’t just buy a product, you buy into the entire process by which that product is made. Consumers, on the other hand, must be wary of “greenwashing,” which occurs when companies fail to live up to their claims of sustainable practices. In terms of the environment, the product must not only be put in eco-friendly packaging, but the manufacturing and transportation processes must also be energy-efficient and non-polluting. In terms of employees, an ethical brand must protect their worker rights in terms of working hours, working conditions, and compensation. In reality, in order to reduce the cost of products and services, some corporations place individuals in hazardous working situations and require them to work longer hours than they are paid for. For example, in 2013, a factory collapse in Bangladesh killed over 1,100 garment workers and injured over 2,000 others, highlighting the unequal exploitation of employees in the fast fashion industry. Child labor exploitation in developing countries is also a severe issue, and animal welfare is another facet of the food industry that should not be disregarded. ReForm Plastic, conscious of the significance of inclusion in its business operations, not only has a beneficial influence on the environment but also helps to support the lives of informal waste collectors. Or HealthyFarm chicken eggs are committed to be farmed in a humane way, meeting international standards for animal welfare.

  1.       Support local businesses

Many local businesses, particularly small and medium-sized ones, have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Supporting local businesses not only helps to provide jobs for the local, boosting the local economy but also reduces sprawl, transportation, habitat loss, and pollution. Evergreen Labs social businesses are committed to hiring local, hands-on employees as well as using decentralized production models. We also boost the local economy and the life of Vietnamese farmers in particular through our social business HealthyFarm, which offers high-quality local products. In particular, the traditional Tet holiday provides a chance for local businesses to highlight local cultural values and uniqueness. HealthyFarm, therefore, provides Tet gift sets inspired by Vietnamese culture, packed in eco-friendly packaging that keeps hygiene standards as an alternative to single-use plastic packaging.

Our purchases may be viewed as a force and voice for change towards a more sustainable society. Consumers have the power to raise the business’s sustainable, ethical, and inclusion standards by choosing to spend money wisely and consciously. As a result, together we can make an impact on the environment and society through our purchase habits to have a more fulfilling and meaningful Tet season!

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Give for Good 2021- It’s time to pay it forward

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A challenging year is about to end, with both gains and losses. Now, more than ever, is a particular time to reflect on gratitude and remember that it’s never too late to give back. Evergreen Labs is a social venture that embodies the value of giving back, whether it’s to the planet or to life itself. And this year’s “Give for Good” donation project for disadvantaged communities across Vietnam was born out of our desire to give back and pay it forward. We also need your helping hands so that together we can plant seeds of hope for a better new year.

Over the past six years, we have built four social enterprises, implemented over 25 projects, and spread our impact across seven countries. We have worked tirelessly so that each impact makes a positive difference in the world. In 2020, we donated 20 sets of tables and chairs made of ReForm Plastic’s recycled materials to eight primary schools in Quang Tri province, helping over 86 children to return to school after the catastrophic effects of the Central Vietnam climate disaster. This year, as the pandemic situation in Vietnam intensifies, we feel more compelled to scale up the “Give for Good” donation project to support more vulnerable communities. We are proud to support over 25 organizations across Vietnam, including schools, orphanages, nursing homes, and disability institutions in provinces like Dong Nai, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Tri, Quang Binh, Ha Tinh, and Son La. We want to donate over 40,000 items, including tables and chairs, bookshelves, floor mats, and other supplies.

The majority of the schools on our list are in rural and mountainous areas and border areas, where ethnic minority students live and learn in deplorable conditions. In an open letter calling for support, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha – Principal of Huc Kindergarten, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province sincerely wrote: “The COVID-19 pandemic’s complicated developments had a big impact on children’s school attendance: some children were quarantined, others didn’t go to school because their unemployed parents couldn’t afford it… As a result, I’d want to express my gratitude to the organizations and philanthropists that devote both material and spiritual resources to helping children overcome obstacles to returning to school.” Many schools are asking some floor mats, slippers, or clothes to use during the chilly winter months, because “many students only have one warm coat; therefore they are afraid to wash it for fear of the coat not drying.”

Despite some supplies being donated by our partners, such as boards from ReForm Plastic for furniture, we need to cover furniture assembly costs and logistics costs to the end recipients. As many of the recipients are in rural, remote locations, it is crucial for us to have enough donations to cover these costs. Additionally, donations will be used to purchase other supplies or equipment requested by the recipients, such as school supplies, food, and so on. As a social enterprise, we will ensure 100% donations directly benefit the recipients, and the more donations received, the more disadvantaged communities will be supported.

We believe that even the smallest contribution can go a long way, and we never know how our small act will make a big difference in someone’s life. Our donations will support many kids in remote areas to return to school with delight, the lonely elderly to have a comfortable place to sleep in the harsh winter, and blind students to have new cabinets to store musical instruments.

Your contributions are much appreciated. Will you join us in planting a kindness seed for the new year?

Learn more and donate today! 

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COP26 what happens next? Takeaways, learnings, and what’s next for our climate

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So COP26 is over. What does this mean for the environment, circular economy, and Vietnam? This conference was branded as a “fragile win” by COP President Alok Sharma and criticized by others such as the Financial Times as “more than expected but less than hoped” and “meek and weak” by Greenpeace Director Jennifer Morgan. The ultimate devastating outcome of COP26 was the failure to deliver on its ultimate target of securing a binding agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. 

Despite leaders and negotiators finding some common ground and striking a climate deal, the world remains far from limiting warming, which was the ultimate goal. 

Some of the overall wins and losses from COP26 include:

  1. Coal Target: The parties called for a clear acceleration of the “phasing-out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuel”. However, last-minute negotiations by India and then backed by China led to the pledge of complete coal phase-out reduced to a “phasing down” of coal power. 
  2. Methane Goals: More than 100 countries agreed to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030; it was the first time methane was recognized as a destructive greenhouse gas.
  3. Carbon Markets: COP26 sealed negotiations on global carbon markets meaning the establishment of an accounting framework for trading credits. This would allow a country that has surpassed its target to count emissions it has prevented and sell them to another country that is behind on their own targets.
  4. Support for threatened countries: While this conference pushed richer nations to provide support to poorer countries facing damages from climate change, this fell short of providing a clear solution and no funding mechanisms were established. According to the United Nations (UN), the amounts pledged to remain far below the annual US$70 billion developing countries are estimated to need; this amount could rise to US$300 billion by 2030.

What commitments were made by Vietnam at COP26 and what are the future commitments towards climate change?

In line with COP26, Vietnam committed to reaching its net-zero carbon emission target by 2050 and called for fairness and justice in climate change issues. 

  1. Dependence on coal: Vietnam is heavily dependent on coal but the government officials have stated that they will double the installed wind and solar power generation capacity to 31-38 gigawatts by 2030. Vietnam aims to phase out coal-fueled power generation by 2040.
  2. Halt to deforestation: Vietnam made a commitment to stop deforestation by 2030.
  3. Emission reduction: Vietnam has targets to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 9 percent with domestic resources and 27 percent with international support by 2030 as per the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
  4. Improve flood-prone regions: Infrastructure development will be prioritized in flood-prone areas as a climate adaptation strategy.

Taken together, there was an overall shift observed at this year’s conference. Firstly, innovation was presented on center stage and seen as a key focal point. This hasn’t been the case during the past conferences showing the positive solution-driven momentum. Second, the private sector was seen to be playing a key role together with non-profit and governments to shift towards net-zero. There was more engagement from industry leaders that must be deeply involved in the transition such as financial services, mining, and shipping industries. Lastly, this year there was lots of visibility for climate adaptation as people around the world are facing climate changes already. 

These shifts were discussed by Bill Gates and he stated, “Some people look at the problems that still need to be solved and see the glass as half-empty. I don’t share that view, but this is what I would tell anyone who does: The glass is being filled up faster than ever. If we keep this up—if the world puts even more effort into innovations that reduce the cost of getting to zero and help the poorest people adapt to climate change—then we’ll be able to look back on this summit as an important milestone in avoiding a climate disaster.”

EGL_Nov2021_OG article #2 (1)

How do social businesses address environmental injustice caused by plastic pollution?

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Businesses, particularly social businesses, play an important role in promoting environmental justice. As producers and consumers of plastics, as well as creators of social values, social businesses will be at the vanguard of a shift away from plastics while protecting human rights. Vulnerable communities bear a disproportionate brunt of the environmental deterioration caused by the plastics crisis, and therefore urgent social business action is needed.

How does plastic pollution cause environmental injustice?

In general, environmental justice considers all disparities in the world, looking at the environmental and social problems, as well as the systems that generate them, and advocating for solutions that benefit both the earth and the people who live on it.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Environmental Justice Non-governmental Organization (Azul) report “Neglected: Environmental Justice Impacts of Plastic Pollution,” plastic pollution disproportionately affects vulnerable groups and communities who live near plastic production and disposal sites, leading to environmental injustice. Plastic pollution not only jeopardizes the livelihoods of individuals who depend on marine resources, but it also creates a slew of health problems for people who ingest toxic micro and nano plastics-infested seafood. Women are at a higher risk of plastic-related toxicity since they’re exposed to more plastic reception and even in feminine care products. Gender, social roles, and political power differences in regulating plastic use and health standards put women at elevated risk of miscarriage and cancer, aggravating gender inequality. Plastic trash, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a serious contributor to the worldwide pollution catastrophe, alongside biodiversity loss and global climate change, resulting in a triple emergency from a global viewpoint.

From Vietnam’s perspectives, since China banned the import of plastic waste in 2018, many Southeast Asian countries, notably Vietnam, have become dumping grounds for polluted and illegal plastic that would have previously been handled by China. The consequences of China’s imported plastic ban, in particular, have had a significant influence on the informal sector. While informal waste collectors are the frontline heroes in the battle against plastic pollution, they are typically parts of vulnerable communities who are at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder and lack access to basic needs such as housing, healthcare, and education, according to a report “Exploring Solutions to Ocean Plastics: Supporting Southeast Asia’s Informal Waste Sector”. They are often members of a “closed group” – a particular ethnic, religious, or other community whose jobs are deemed shameful. In an in-depth study implemented by Evergreen Labs and UNDP Accelerator Lab, while the informal waste sector makes a substantial contribution to Danang’s overall objective of obtaining a 15% waste recycling rate by 2025, this contribution is not always recognized in current policies.

In addition to promoting a circular economy and improving waste management, social businesses may use a few practices to increase business responsibility and contribute to tackling above-mentioned environmental injustice problems.

#1 Improve lives and livelihoods of the most affected

Communities and stakeholders most impacted by environmental impacts can earn money by participating in environmental occupations, such as circular jobs. For example, Waste pickers earn a fair income for all sorts of waste collected for ReForm Plastic, an Evergreen Lab’s  social business which transforms orphan plastic debris into new tradable products. This includes low-valued plastic waste that was previously worthless to collect and hence dumped in the environment. ReForm Plastic also employs informal workers providing them with safe, secure jobs with benefits such as social and health insurance.  These opportunities give the informal workers who are often stigmatized a greater sense of how appreciated their work is in the community, as well as enhancing their skills, confidence, and work experience.

#2 Increase access to learning and raise awareness

Solving environmental problems is not enough; social businesses must also share the responsibility of spreading knowledge and raising awareness so that more individuals adopt an environmental justice perspective and affect their communities. At Evergreen Labs, we place knowledge co-learning and co-sharing at the center of our activities. We are dedicated to sharing knowledge about entrepreneurship, innovation, social & environmental causes, and inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurial minds in Vietnam. To date, we have mentored over 25 startup teams, invested in 16 startups, participated or co-organized 12 events relating to startup and entrepreneurship, and successfully supported 7 charity organizations.

#3 Collaborate to scale up impact

To address the climate crisis, a social business ecosystem should be built, as well as collaboration with others across industries and specialist stakeholders. As a social venture, we work with a wide range of partners to help them apply sustainable and circular business models which reach the triple bottom line. Another social business of ours – Glassia offers a local, affordable, reusable glass bottled water product to an otherwise market of centrally produced, single-use PET or expensive imported single-use glass. Glassia is now growing its collaboration with other local businesses to not only alleviate the burden of plastic waste but also to improve the local economy and to establish an ecosystem of ethical businesses willing to fight for environmental injustice in the locality. Notably, ReForm Plastic is also continuing to expand its operations outside of Vietnam, with 2 factories operating in Myanmar since 2020 and factory partners planning their ReForm Plastic factories in Malaysia, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Mozambique.

In COP26, Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam, has made a call for fairness and justice in climate change challenges, urging all nations to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining equality and justice in the response. “Science must take the lead, and financial resources must be used to leverage the transition to a green, circular economy, with all activities based on the environment and people-centered, leaving no one behind,” he said. The call may serve as a motivator for social businesses to collaborate in the fight for environmental justice not only in Vietnam but globally.

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