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Towards Zero Waste Future for Biosphere Reserve Campaign
Echoing the World Environment Day 2023 “Solutions to plastic pollution”, with the objective to raise awareness and inspire community to take the actions on reducing plastic waste, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has been implementing a communication campaign named “Towards Zero Waste Future for Biosphere Reserve” via social media from April to July 2023.
The statistics are alarming; without necessary interventions, the amount of plastic waste entering aquatic ecosystems could nearly triple from some 9-14 million tons per year in 2016 to a projected 23-27 million tons per year by 2040 (UNEP, 2021). In Viet Nam alone, with levels of domestic waste growing rapidly, United Nations Environment Program reports up to 730,000 tons of garbage, most of which originates inland, reaches the ocean annually (UNEP, 2020).
Biosphere Reserves are areas with terrestrial, coastal and / or a combination of the above. Designated by UNESCO, Biosphere Reserves promote solutions that reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. There are 11 Biosphere Reserves in Vietnam recognized by UNESCO since 2000, covering approximately 4,652,195 ha (account for about 14,5 % of country’s area). More than ever, the Biosphere reserves, particularly marine Biosphere reserves have been facing with many environmental challenges, especially marine litter and plastic pollution due to rapid social economic development and population growth.
As part of the United Nations collective #BeatPlasticPolution actions, echoing the World Environment Day 2023 “Solutions to Plastic Pollution”, UNESCO Vietnam has launched the “Towards Zero Waste Future for Biosphere Reserve” campaign on social media. The campaign aims to (i) raising awareness toward changing social behavior on plastic waste and 5Rs of waste management: Rethink – Refuse – Reduce –Reuse - Recycle for zero waste in Biosphere Reserves designated by UNESCO in Vietnam; (ii) to promote plastic/marine debris/solid waste management in Biosphere Reserves for sustainable development including ground-solutions for zero waste led by community; (iii) mobilize joint actions from different stakeholders in favor of plastic/marine debris issues.
The “Towards Zero Waste Future for Biosphere Reserve” Campaign consists of a wide range of activities, including media posts, challenges, talk show, and minigames. As it targets youth aged between 18 – 35 across Viet Nam, the designed activitites are diverse, trendy, and fun and have recieved strong attention from the youth. Through the campaign, community particularly youth can gain knowledge about Biosphere Reserve and its human-interest stories in plastic waste reduction at sites, 5Rs of waste management for zero waste lifestyle, and freely express their creative ideas and collectively inspire a range of positive actions on plastic waste Rethink – Refuse – Reduce - Reuse - Recycle. Since 31 May 2023, the Zer0Plastic Challenge has been announced so the community could share personal lifestyles/actions that apply 5Rs rules in daily life for plastic waste, especially single use plastic. The luckiest participants in the activities of the campaign will be awarded a gift set by UNESCO and Vietnamese stars that foster sustainable living style. In addition, in 15 June 2023, the event Toward Zero Plastic Waste Future was successfully organized with the active participation of youth, scientists, and artists to encourage and spread the sustainable living style .
Several Vietnamese stars join hands to spread the campaign, namely, Miss Doan Thien An, Bui Phuong Nga, MC Quynh Nga, An Phuong, Ninh Tito, MeiChan, KhiemSlays, Chau Bui and Vung. In addition, there is the companionship from Assoc.Prof.Dr. Tran Thanh Nam-University of Education, VNU, Dr. Ha Thang Long - Chairman of GreenViet, and Mr. Do Viet Anh - CEO BOO Fashion.
The “Towards Zero Waste Future for Biosphere Reserve” campaign is under the framework of the UNESCO’s Youth and Innovation for Ocean Initiative implemented in Vietnam since 2020, with the financially support from The Coca-Cola Foundation. Further information about the campaign could be found at
Media contact:
Mr Dao Khac Viet – Associate Project Officer, Natural Sciences Unit
UNESCO Office in Viet Nam
Green One UN House
304 Kim Ma, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Email: kv.dao@unesco.org
Tel: +84 2438506117
