Co-hosted by CHOICE, UPGREEN VIETNAM and AJYELN Viet Nam Team from 15 November to 17 November of 2024 at AEON Mall, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City
Reported by
Nguyen San Polang, Phan Thuy Binh, Nguyen Tan Tri Nguyen, Duong Gia Bao
1. Key takeaways:
- Participants gained a better understanding of microplastics and their harmful effects through information boards prepared by CHOICE, UPGREEN and AJYELN fellows. The program emphasized awareness about how plastic pollution does harm to humans and the environment to participants.
- Changing behaviors and learning alternative solutions to the use of plastic products: Participants, especially children also realized that their common plastic products could contribute significantly to plastic pollution. Thus, they can reuse the plastic wastes being thrown away every day by crafting and repurposing them as useful and fun products. The program introduced participants to practical ways to tackle plastic pollution, equipping them with valuable alternative solutions.
2. Main highlights:
- Date: 15–17 November 2024, 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Venue: AEON MALL TAN PHU, 30 Tan Thang Street, Son Ky Ward, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
- Co-organizers: CHOICE, UPGREEN VIETNAM
- Participants: mainly customers, children and students who were shopping inside the mall.
- No. of participants: 3168 participants
3. Activities implemented
There were three main activities in the camp that participants could take part in, presented in the table below.
Activities | Details |
Information Boards | Scattered around the event area, three boards provide informative microplastic statistics: ・Average microplastic consumption by week, months and a year; ・How microplastics can get into the human body and harm your health upon consumption; ・7 types of plastic, their biodegradability and physical characteristics, etc. |
Knowledge Stations | In total, 4 stations are settled with the following activities: ・Station 1: Watching microplastics hidden in common foods through microscopes and magnifying glass, then identify the types of microplastic; ・Station 2: Participants have to play a quiz game of choosing the best solution addressing plastic waste problems and situations in daily life; ・Station 3: Picking out a random piece of paper and put the correct word into the blank; addressing plastic problems and enhancing the values of the 5Rs rule; ・Station 4: Throwing hoops on water bottles, with each one representing Plastic type 1 to 7. If the player gets the hoops in the bottles they will have to present the basic information of that type of plastic (which can be observed through the Information Board). |
Recycling and Repurposing Stations | In these stations, participants can try out recycling plastic waste from bottles to craft and decorate a usable product to their liking. There are 3 crafting stations: ・Bookmark: Use the plastic from one-single-use boxes; ・Dreamcatcher: Same material with bookmark; ・Jewelry & keychains: Use the plastic from water bottles, which can be cut into various shapes for charms to be sewn together as bracelets or earrings. Attach the keychain ring to make a keychain to your liking! |
4. Outcome:
- Participants who committed to quit plastic: 982 individuals signed up to quit single-use plastic after taking part in the activities.
- 86 jewelry sets were made, exceeding the expectation.
- 40 customizable keychains were made. Although the number of chains was limited, we ran out of keychains faster than any other crafting station.
- 102 sets of bookmarks were created, surpassing the setting goal. The majority of participants were children who had fun during the process.
- 116 sets of dreamcatchers were completed, this was the most demanding craft during the event.
5. Feedback:
- “After participating in the Rehab at Aeon Mall Tan Phu, I found it very meaningful and helpful to me. It especially helps people gain a better understanding of recycling plastics in everyday life. This activity is beneficial not only for individuals but also for society, as it helps raise awareness about protecting the environment.”
- “I gained a better understanding of plastic waste and learned about solutions to reduce its use from the Rehab. The organizers shared with me some creative ways to make DIY products. It’s undeniable that this event provided me with a great experience, offering practical knowledge about plastic waste in a way that wasn’t overly academic or dry.”
- “I found this camp very useful, providing me with a lot of information about plastic and ways to reduce and recycle it in daily life. What I really appreciated about the camp is that it didn’t bombard us with overwhelming or distant concepts but focused on everyday things that often go unnoticed. What impressed me the most was how it helped participants clearly recognize and understand these issues. Thank you for bringing such valuable information to us!”