Schools are the starting point for changing behaviors toward plastic waste

At the workshop titled “Guidelines and Roadmap for Implementing the ASEAN Eco-School Criteria - Plastic-Free Schools,” held on October 21 in Hue City, Ms. Hoang Ngoc Tuong Van, an officer of WWF-Viet Nam, emphasized the message that schools are the starting point for transforming behavior toward plastic waste.

According to Ms. Van, during the implementation of the “Plastic Smart Cities” project in Hue, WWF-Viet Nam has always identified students as the core drivers of change and behavior transformation. When given opportunities, trust, and responsibility, students can become catalysts for spreading awareness and inspiring action across communities, from mindset to behavior, from individuals to society. This, she stressed, forms the foundation for a greener future, where collective efforts contribute to reducing plastic waste and building Hue into a clean, bright, and environmentally sustainable heritage city.

Building on this foundation, WWF has adopted a three-tiered approach, targeting primary, vocational, and university levels. For primary schools, WWF has implemented plastic reduction campaigns and encouraged students to practice the 4Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, through both curricular and extracurricular activities that promote sustainable living.

“When equipped with the right knowledge, skills, and opportunities, students not only change their own behavior but also become active advocates for the environment within their families and communities, spreading a green and responsible lifestyle,” Ms. Van shared.

At the high school level, the project focuses on deepening students’ understanding of plastic pollution and introducing the 6R principles: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, and Rethink. These concepts are integrated into formal lessons and further reinforced through dynamic initiatives such as Recycling Festivals, creative recycling competitions, and communication campaigns on plastic reduction.

Notably, WWF has established more than 25 “I Love the Environment” clubs, engaging thousands of students nationwide. One standout example is Thong Nhat Primary School in Hanoi, where students have been trained to conduct waste audits, sort recyclables, and design their own “Green Living - Plastic Reduction” roadmap. Through these small but impactful actions, the students have become genuine “environmental ambassadors,” inspiring local businesses and residents to join hands in protecting the environment.

WWF has expanded its eco-school model beyond general education to vocational and higher education institutions, aiming to promote green lifestyles among young people - the future workforce that will directly contribute to sustainable economic and social development.

At Hue Tourism College, WWF has collaborated to train students in “green tourism,” organize profession-oriented competitions focused on plastic reduction, and develop 70 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that integrate plastic reduction content across six training programs. More than 100 students have practiced the 6R principles: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover, and Rethink in designing and operating sustainable tourism activities, helping shape an environmentally responsible professional culture.

At Hue University of Sciences, plastic reduction topics have been incorporated into courses such as General Environmental Education and Environment and Humans. An online question bank has also been developed to assess students’ environmental awareness. Alongside theoretical study, students regularly participate in practical and creative extracurricular activities such as marine waste recycling, green innovation exhibitions, and environmental protection seminars - encouraging both green thinking and concrete action.

One of the most notable initiatives supported and highly valued by WWF is “Students Recycle Agricultural By-products and Organic Waste”, which creatively transforms rice straw and water hyacinths into eco-friendly products. From this initiative, students have produced 1,600 straw-based items for pilot use at 90 local businesses and conducted 500 direct and online surveys to assess product quality. Through these activities, they have become true “green ambassadors,” actively encouraging businesses to adopt environmentally friendly products, reduce single-use plastics, and develop practical recycled items for study and daily life.

“This initiative also represents an important approach within the Plastic Smart Cities project, helping to build a network that connects students, schools, communities, and businesses,” shared Ms. Hoang Ngoc Tuong Van. “In the second phase, WWF will continue to work alongside students to expand the scale of water hyacinth recycling, contributing to the development of a circular economy and sustainable green cities.”

According to Ms. Hoang Ngoc Tuong Van, the “Plastic Smart Cities” project in Hue has achieved remarkable results to date, with 83 schools participating, over 263,000 people engaged, and more than 3 tons of plastic waste prevented from entering the environment. The initiative has also established 25 “I Love the Environment” clubs, a Green Living Volunteer Group, and numerous student-led initiatives that have won national environmental awards.

To sustain these achievements, WWF has partnered with Hue University of Sciences to establish the Green Living Volunteer Group - a platform where students are equipped with skills to organize activities, inspire others, and serve as bridges connecting knowledge, community, and action. The group continues to expand its communication network and organize campaigns across localities, fostering a vibrant and sustainable green-living movement.

Drawing from the experience of implementing the Plastic Smart Cities model in Hue, Ms. Hoang Ngoc Tuong Van emphasized that “every student is a green seed, and every university student is a green ambassador.” She affirmed WWF-Viet Nam’s commitment to continuing to share information, tools, and best practices from the “Plastic Smart School” model to help build the ASEAN Eco-school Network – Plastic-Free School, contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for the region.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has assigned the Vietnam Agriculture and Nature Newspaper to collaborate with relevant agencies and the Green Future Fund to organize the ASEAN Eco-Schools Vietnam 2025 Awards - “Plastic-Waste Free Schools.” 

For more information about the Awards, readers can visit the online platforms nongnghiepmoitruong.vn or ecoschool.vn, or contact journalist Nguyen Quynh Chi at 0967181555 / nquynhchi.00@gmail.com.