Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment organised a ceremony to launch the ASEAN Eco-Schools Award 2025 and a dialogue on “Plastic-Free Schools: Action for a Green Generation” in Hanoi on September 19.
The event attracted nearly 300 domestic and international guests attending in person, and more than 5,800 online participants.
The award is a key initiative under the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN), aiming to recognise and reward schools with outstanding achievements in environmental education, environmental protection, and sustainable development. This year’s award centres around the theme “Plastic-Free Schools”, aligning with the United Nations’ call to “end plastic pollution.”
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment and head of the award organising board, Le Cong Thanh, emphasised that this is not merely a slogan, but a strong call to action in the face of plastic pollution - a pressing global environmental challenge.
Vietnam, like many ASEAN countries, is facing immense pressure from plastic waste, which directly affects ecosystems, public health, and the future of generations to come. It has implemented numerous policies and initiatives to reduce plastic waste, including the national campaign to combat plastic waste launched by the Government. The environment and education sectors have worked closely together to build green school models, and integrated environmental education, circular economy, and sustainable consumption into the curriculum.
The award will serve as a strong catalyst, creating a network of green schools across Vietnam, spreading environmental awareness, and encouraging innovation and creativity in teaching and learning, Thanh stressed.
Le Thai Ha, Managing Director of "For Green Future" Foundation under Vingroup JSC – the sponsor of the award, expressed her belief that investing in today’s younger generation is essentially shaping a green future for tomorrow. She noted that each school’s application to the award reflects creative initiatives and practical actions to reduce plastic waste, contribute to building a greener Vietnam, and inspire sustainable practices across the region.
Each year, Vietnam generates approximately 3.8 million tonnes of plastic waste, of which more than 2 million tonnes are improperly managed, causing severe impacts on ecosystems and directly affecting people’s living environments. Meanwhile, the rate of plastic waste sorting and recycling is only around 20–27%, with many types of plastic still being buried or discharged directly into the environment.
In schools specifically, 50% of waste consists of single-use plastics, which directly affects the school environment and the health of millions of students, while also fostering unsustainable consumption habits among the future generations of the nation./.
