A seminar reviewing the progress made by a major environmental pilot project in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City took place in the capital on August 17.

Launched in November 2012 under the auspices of the European Union Switch Asia programme, the “Live Green Vietnam” project aims to offer environmentally conscious training to 1,000 consumers who are expected to build a more sustainable future.

The training offers consumption awareness and advice on consumer behaviour at a time when natural resources are depleting and the environment is becoming seriously polluted.

Deputy Director of the Asian Institute of Technology in Vietnam (AITVN) Nguyen Thi Bich Hoa said the pilot project has produced research providing a foundation for people of all ages, professions and educational backgrounds to receive training.

Divided into 10 groups, the pilot participants attended five meetings to learn about diverse topics such as food, transport, energy saving, shopping and waste. Additionally, they also learnt about the concept of “Living Green” and “Sustaintable consumption.”

Technical Director of the project Marcel Crul said the Delft University of Technology (TUD) will be responsbile for developing methods and documentation to implement the project on a large scale in early 2014.

The coordinating board also plans to publish a handbook of sustainable consumption and training materials for all participants.

The seminar was co-hosted by the Vietnam Cleaner Production Centre, the AITVN and the TUD of the Netherlands.-VNA