RMIT Vietnam academic showcases expertise at renowned European roundtable

RMIT Vietnam academic showcases expertise at renowned European roundtable

Plastic waste is a mounting problem in Vietnam as an emerging consumerist country according to RMIT Vietnam academic Dr Nguyen Anh Thu.

Together with a colleague from RMIT University, Dr Thu contributed to the ERSCP 2019 panel discussion, Building synergies across the SDGs: Waste, Food and Sustainable Cities with her insights into the application of zero waste in Vietnam.

RMIT Vietnam lecturer Dr Nguyen Anh Thu gave insights into the application of zero waste in Vietnam at the ERSCP 2019 panel discussion. RMIT Vietnam lecturer Dr Nguyen Anh Thu gave insights into the application of zero waste in Vietnam at the ERSCP 2019 panel discussion.

A lecturer in consumer behaviour from RMIT Vietnam’s School of Business & Management, Dr Thu is passionate about sustainability, with a research focus on examining consumer behaviour towards plastic pollution and eco-friendly packaging, and consumer perceptions of littering and waste treatment.

A recent report from Ocean Conservancy, an international ocean protection group, claimed that Vietnam is among the world’s five worst marine polluters when it comes to plastics. China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam are responsible for as much as 60 per cent of plastic waste in the world’s oceans. 

Dr Thu showed panel discussion participants the seriousness of negative environmental impacts of plastic packaging in Vietnam by emphasising the country’s size and shape.

“As an S-shaped country, Vietnam extends for 1,750 kilometres from the north to the south and its widest and narrowest territories are 600 kilometres and 50 kilometres wide respectively. Vietnam possesses a long coastline with more than 3,200 kilometres in length,” Dr Thu said.  

“It is estimated that about 80 tons of plastic waste are thrown away every day in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City combined.”

The Vietnamese government has initiated social marketing campaigns to raise consumer awareness of plastic pollution and reduce consumption, but changing consumer behaviour is not easy. 

Dr Thu believes a full understanding of internal psychological and external social factors influencing consumer behaviour is required “before we can successfully encourage pro-environmental behaviour, such as buying eco-friendly packaged food products, stopping littering and minimising waste”.

"Motivating sustainable consumption must involve building awareness of environmental issues, developing supportive communities and promoting meaningful actions." 

(From left to right) Research Fellow EdiCitNet at RMIT Europe Dr Ferne Edwards, Director Viable Cities and Senior Researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology Dr Olga Kordas, RMIT Vietnam Digital Marketing lecturer Dr Nguyen Anh Thu, and Head of Local Engagement of UN Global Compact – CitiesProgramme Mr Javier Cortés. (From left to right) Research Fellow EdiCitNet at RMIT Europe Dr Ferne Edwards, Director Viable Cities and Senior Researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology Dr Olga Kordas, RMIT Vietnam Digital Marketing lecturer Dr Nguyen Anh Thu, and Head of Local Engagement of UN Global Compact – CitiesProgramme Mr Javier Cortés.

Dr Thu’s presentation was well received by the delegates and led to opportunities for future collaboration. 

“By presenting this critical issue of the region, I hope to get the attention from the environmental advocacy organisations to further examine possible solutions and generate real impact in Vietnam and beyond,” Dr Thu said.

Story: Ha Hoang

11 December 2019

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