Distributing bags and straws made from cornstarch to 'say no to plastic waste'

Responding to the campaign "Say no to plastic waste", on the morning of June 8, the Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Youth Union organized a program to distribute free straws and bags made from cornstarch to people and businesses in Vinh city.

This is a program to promote and mobilize people, especially businesses in the province, to change their habits in using plastic products to reduce the burden of environmental pollution.

Many people came to learn about and register to try out cornstarch bags at Quan Lau market (Ho Tung Mau street, Vinh city). Photo: Thanh Quynh

Vinh City was chosen as the first pilot location of the campaign, in which Quan Lau market (Ho Tung Mau street), large supermarkets and some coffee shops located on Quang Trung street were chosen as the places to implement the program.

Accordingly, the volunteer team distributed more than 310 boxes of food bags, 200 boxes of shopping bags (each box has 30-50 bags), and thousands of straws made from cornstarch.

Made from plasticized corn starch, the product will completely decompose into CO after use.₂, water and organic compost within 6 months to 1 year under natural landfill or industrial composting conditions.

Preserving meat, fish, vegetables and fruits in the refrigerator will be safer without being contaminated by plastic from regular PE and nylon bags.

The price of the product is only 5 to 10% higher than regular plastic bags.

People are provided with information and instructions on how to use the product by members of the advisory team. Photo: Thanh Quynh

After Vinh city, the program will continue to be implemented in Hoang Mai town with 2 markets Quynh Dien, Quynh Phuong and businesses in the area.

In parallel with the above programs, the Provincial Youth Union Standing Committee will integrate the propaganda plan to grassroots youth unions in the activities of the 2019 summer volunteer campaign.

Propaganda content is built closely following the reality of each locality to directly raise awareness of union members, youth in particular and the community in general in increasing the use of environmentally friendly products.

Many coffee shops, supermarkets and production and business households in the city have used products distributed from the program. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Previously, within the framework of the campaign “Say no to plastic waste”, the Provincial Youth Union Standing Committee launched the contest “Challenge for change”, to promote the collection and recycling of plastic waste and nylon bags at markets, supermarkets, shopping malls, residential areas, etc.