Up to 25 teams gathered on Wednesday, June 25, in Hanoi for the award ceremony of the Plastic Innovation Program 2025, showcasing innovative solutions to reduce plastic pollution through advanced production and design techniques, reusable products, and circular financial tools. The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, with support from the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund and the Coca-Cola Foundation.
“These innovative solutions should be rapidly applied and bring significant added value to Vietnam’s fight against plastic pollution, helping to address the increasingly urgent problem of plastic waste pollution, turning the plastic waste challenge into an opportunity for Vietnam to implement a circular economy by applying cutting-edge technology to reduce plastic emissions,” said Lê Công Thành, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Environment.
The official presented these awards as recognition and inspiration, encouraging scientists, young innovators, and experts to innovate in materials, technologies, and business models.
“The statistics on the diverse and creative participation of the teams demonstrate the strong vitality of Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem. A dynamic community is tackling one of today’s most urgent challenges: plastic pollution,” said Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam.
The 25 finalist teams presented their ideas to a jury composed of representatives from government agencies, the Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi, business leaders, and strategic partners. Their projects focused on sustainable plastic economies, a plastic-free ecosystem, and smart waste management devices.
Six teams received the highest honors, each awarded up to $30,000, while four others received $10,000 each. The 10 winners are now preparing for a nine-month sprint to pilot and deploy their projects, with a major presentation scheduled for 2026.
Launched in February 2025, the competition attracted 116 applications from across Vietnam.
Source: lecourrier
