Ha Noi, 25 January 2022 – The Viet Nam Chemical Agency (VINACHEMIA), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organised a closing workshop to present the results of the project “Application of Green Chemistry in Viet Nam to Support Green Growth and Reduction in the Use and Release of POPs Harmful Chemicals,” funded by the Global Environment Facility.

Attending the workshop were leaders and representatives of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT), UNDP, VINACHEMIA, the Chemical Association, businesses, and university students.

The chemical industry plays an important role in Viet Nam’s socio-economic development, and is developing rapidly with an average annual growth rate of 10% between 2010-2020. The chemical industry and related supply chains contribute about 11.2% of the value of national industrial production, and create jobs for about 10% of Viet Nam’s entire industrial workforce. In spite of the positive contributions of the chemical industry to the country's economy, however, there is increasing concern regarding the level of chemical contamination measured in the environment, and more chemical-related incidents have been occurring nationwide.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, Director of the Department of Chemicals under MOIT, said that “The chemical industry is present everywhere. This is a project that has contributed very important results to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Department of Chemicals, contributing to the development of the "Strategy to develop Viet Nam's chemical industry to 2030, with a vision to 2040.” In addition, the chemical industry is planning to build a chemical industrial complex focused on better environmental and chemical safety management in the near future.

The project "Applying Green Chemistry in Viet Nam to Support Green Growth and Reduce the Use and Reduce Emissions of Persistent Organic Chemicals and Hazardous Chemicals" is implemented from 2017 to 2021. The project has achieved key results including reducing 6.3kg of mercury emissions into the environment, eliminating 1,578 tons of persistent organic pollutant (POP)-containing materials and products, more than 3.6 tons of pure POPs, and reducing emissions of 1,072 tons of CO₂. The project has supported the application of green chemistry in the coating and electroplating industry through four new lines of technology – a passive 3+ chromium-transfer alkaline galvanizing line, a passive 3+ chromium-transfer alkaline galvanizing line, a zinc coating line, and a high-performance paint production equipment system – with total energy savings of 1,134,000 GJ equivalent to 42,000 tons of coal. 65 businesses have benefited from the project and three universities have been directly involved, with more than 210 students participating in training courses. In addition, the project contributed to reviewing and providing recommendations on integrating the principles of green chemistry into the revised Law on Chemicals and the draft Strategy to develop Viet Nam's chemical industry to 2030, with a vision to 2040, and also established the Green Chemistry Cell at the Viet Nam Chemical Association.

Mr. Patrick Haverman, UNDP Viet Nam Deputy Resident Representative, made recommendations to further promote green chemicals in Viet Nam. “It is important that we include green chemistry in the upcoming revisions to the 2007 Law on Chemicals. Green chemistry not only brings environmental benefits but also opportunities for businesses, such as reducing water use, saving energy, and creating competitive opportunities for businesses to join the global supply chain. In addition, promoting green finance such as green loans or green bonds is also essential for encouraging the private sector to mobilize resources and promote investment in cleaner production. Ultimately, green chemistry education and training is crucial to ensuring that it can be effectively implemented in practice.”

At the workshop, students who won a national competition on raising awareness about Green Chemistry were also honored. The first prize was awarded to Vu Quang Huy and Mai Van Phong (Phenikaa University - Science and Technology), the second prize to Truong Thi Thuy Trang and Vu Thi Ngan (University of Science and Technology), and the third prize to Nguyen Quoc Vuong (Da Nang Polytechnic), with honorable mentions going to Do Thi Trang and Do Ngoc Minh (Hanoi University of Science and Technology - Foreign Trade University) and Le Hoang Minh and Nguyen Hoang Gia Huy (The Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology).

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the project is to create a favorable environment for introducing GC and applications to the production industry in Viet Nam and reduce the use and release of chemicals controlled under the Stockholm and Minamata Conventions.

Contact information for media:

Phan Huong Giang, CCE Media and Communications Analyst
UNDP Viet Nam
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org      Tel: 0948466688

Hoang Thanh Vinh, Programme Analyst
UNDP Viet Nam
Email hoang.thanh.vinh@undp.org