Australia launches new Plastics Innovation Hub in Vietnam

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO has announced the delivery of new innovations to tackle plastic waste in the Indo-Pacific, with a Plastics Innovation Hub being launched today in Vietnam.

The Hub Vietnam will be a vehicle for collaboration, bringing together local communities and governments, researchers, business, and investors to undertake action-based projects to reduce the impacts of plastic waste. It expands the network in the region, following the launch of a Plastic Innovation Hub in Indonesia in March 2022.

Globally, 75% of plastic produced is becoming waste. To help address this, the Plastics Innovation Hub Vietnam will aim to significantly reduce plastic waste in Vietnam by driving collaboration and using science and innovation to develop real-world solutions. 

The Plastics Innovation Hub Vietnam (the Hub Vietnam) is an initiative of Aus4Innovation, a development assistance program sponsored by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), managed and co-funded by CSIRO out of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi, and delivered in partnership with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

CSIRO Southeast Asia Counsellor, Amelia Fyfield said that collaboration was the key to solving the global plastic pollution challenge.

Fyfield notes “CSIRO is excited to collaborate through the Plastics Innovation Hub Vietnam and use our globally renowned science and expertise to work on addressing this problem internationally.

“The Plastics Innovation Hub Vietnam differentiates itself by focusing on early-stage initiatives, setting foundations, and aiming to connect participants with key networks.”

Research into plastic in Vietnam has already been undertaken as part of CSIRO’s largest global plastic pollution survey. The goal of this work has been to identify how much and what types of rubbish end up in the environment. Additional work between Australia and Vietnam is also planned for the coming months, as Vietnam looks to develop a national data repository and expand their on-the-ground surveys.

Program Director for Aus4Innovation, Kim Wimbush, said solutions based on science, technology and innovation would support the Vietnamese government’s goals to tackle plastic waste and build a circular economy.

“Reducing plastic waste brings economic and environmental advantages,” Dr Wimbush said.

“Expanding our collaborations across the region will identify new approaches in reducing plastic waste and support Vietnam’s pledge to reduce the flow of plastics into the ocean by 75% by 2030.”

The Plastic Innovation Hub Vietnam is part of CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste Mission, which aims to change the way we make, use, recycle and dispose of plastics. 

The online launch will be held today Thursday 23rd June at 1pm AEDT - join at vietnam/launch-information-session/

Image: The Plastics Innovation Hub Vietnam aims to tackle plastic waste in the region.