Australia launches plastics innovation hub in Vietnam

Australia has launched the Plastics Innovation Hub Vietnam (or, the Hub Vietnam), an initiative to tackle plastic waste in the Indo-Pacific through the development of real-world solutions to the problem.

It is being developed by Aus4Innovation, a development assistance program sponsored by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and managed and co-funded by CSIRO. It will be run out of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi and delivered in partnership with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology.

“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,” said CSIRO Southeast Asia Counsellor Amelia Fyfield.

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

The Hub Vietnam will bring together local communities and governments, researchers, business and investors to work on the reduction of the impacts of plastic waste. The initiative adds to the network of innovation hubs in the region, following from March’s launch of a Plastic Innovation Hub in Indonesia. These hubs are part of CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste Mission which aims to change how plastic is made, used, recycled and disposed of.

Research into plastic in the country has been undertaken as part of CSIRO’s global plastic pollution survey; the goal of this is to identify how much and what sorts of rubbish end up in the environment. More work between Australia and Vietnam is planned in the future, as the latter country hopes to develop a national data repository and expand its own surveys.

Aus4Innovation Program Director 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,” 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.”

Read more about the Plastic Innovation Hub Vietnam on its website: ippin.org/vietnam/.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/vchalup