13 November 2025 | Online (Google Meet) | 36 Participants
Reported by Lê Đoàn Ngọc Hân, Lê Đỗ Thanh Tú
The “Rethink Plastic” Webinar, held on 13 November 2025 by The Viet Environeers, was an education-focused initiative aimed at preparing students and young people in Mũi Né and Ho Chi Minh City for upcoming environmental actions by strengthening their understanding of plastic pollution. Delivered bilingually via Google Meet, the webinar brought together 36 academic experts, youth advocates, and international environmental speakers to explore the plastic life cycle, core waste-management principles, and the global challenges of ocean pollution. Through a blend of scientific insights, youth storytelling, and cross-cultural perspectives, the program fostered environmental literacy and nurtured a sustainability-minded youth community in advance of the Clean-Up campaign.
Key takeaways
- Strengthened environmental literacy through bilingual scientific learning: Participants developed a solid understanding of the plastic life cycle—from production and consumption to disposal and recycling—through a clear and accessible scientific presentation by Huỳnh Tấn Lợi, Head of the Environmental Science Faculty at Van Lang University. Students learned to identify common plastic types (PET, PP, HDPE, LDPE, etc.) and gained insight into how urban waste travels through rivers to the ocean, as well as its consequences for marine ecosystems and human health.
- Empowered youth mindset and sense of personal responsibility for sustainability: Through an inspiring sharing session by Nguyễn Thảo Nhi (Top 11, Miss Vietnam Student 2023), participants were encouraged to transform environmental awareness into concrete action. Her story highlighted the critical role of young people in community development and demonstrated how media engagement and personal influence can contribute to long-term, positive environmental change.
- Broadened global perspectives through cross-cultural environmental narratives: The webinar also featured an international environmental advocate who shared global experiences recognized in ocean conservation, waste reduction, and youth-led environmental initiatives. This cross-cultural perspective helped participants see plastic pollution not only as a local issue affecting Mũi Né, but as a regional and global challenge that requires collaboration, shared responsibility, and collective impact.
Main highlights
- Date: 13 November 2025
- Venue: Online (Google Meet)
- Organizer: The Viet Environeers
- Participants: Volunteers and students from Bùi Thị Xuân High School, residents of Mũi Né, and youth communities in HCMC
- No. of participants: 36 participants
- Invited speakers:
- Dr. Huỳnh Tiến Lợi – Head of Environmental Science Faculty, Van Lang University (Academic sector)
- Nguyễn Thảo Nhi – Top 11 Miss Vietnam Student 2023, youth sustainability advocate (Youth & media sector)
- Menghorng Kao (International speaker) – Environmental advocate from Cambodia sharing global & regional experiences (NGO sector)
- MC/Facilitator from VLU – Supporting communication and engagement (Communication sector)
Activities implemented
The “Rethink Plastic” Webinar aimed to strengthen young people’s environmental literacy by deepening their understanding of plastic pollution and its impacts, while empowering them to take meaningful and informed environmental action. It also sought to broaden participants’ global and cross-cultural perspectives by highlighting shared environmental challenges and diverse approaches to sustainability. In addition, the program was designed to prepare youth for active participation in the upcoming Beach Clean-up activities by building both awareness and a sense of collective responsibility.
Pre-Webinar Survey – Audience Analysis and Insight Collection
Prior to the “ReThink Plastic” Webinar, a survey was conducted to better understand the participant profile and assess their prior exposure to environmental topics. Demographic results showed that the majority of attendees were university students (41.7%) and high school students (41.6%), while the remaining participants were working professionals. This distribution confirms that the webinar primarily engaged young audiences at key stages of educational and personal development.
To assess participants’ previous engagement with environmental issues, the survey also asked whether they had attended any environmental talk shows or webinars in the past. Results indicated that 66.7% of respondents had prior exposure to similar events, suggesting a moderate level of baseline awareness and interest in environmental topics.
In addition, participants were asked how they learned about the Webinar. Most respondents reported receiving information through educational institutions or environmental organizations, highlighting the effectiveness of leveraging school-based and community networks to promote sustainability-focused initiatives.
The webinar was conducted bilingually to ensure inclusivity and accessibility for a diverse youth audience. The first session was delivered by Dr. Huỳnh Tiến Lợi, Head of the Environmental Science Faculty at Van Lang University. As an environmental scientist specializing in sustainability, waste management, and climate resilience, Dr. Lợi presented a comprehensive overview of plastic and its life cycle, covering production, consumption, disposal, and recycling processes.
He explained key distinctions among common plastic types such as PET, PP, HDPE, and LDPE, and traced the pathway of plastic waste from urban environments through river systems to the ocean. The session further emphasized the ecological consequences of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems, as well as its potential risks to human health. Beyond knowledge transfer, the session aimed to strengthen environmental literacy by helping participants understand the systemic nature of plastic pollution and recognize their individual and collective roles in waste reduction.
The second session featured Ms. Nguyễn Thảo Nhi (Top 11, Miss Vietnam Student 2023), who shared personal reflections on environmental sustainability and youth engagement. Drawing on her experience as a young advocate, she highlighted how awareness can be translated into concrete action and demonstrated the power of media and public influence in amplifying youth-led sustainability initiatives. This session was designed to inspire students and young adults to take proactive, locally relevant actions and to foster a sense of responsibility and empowerment within their schools, communities, and peer networks.
The final segment provided a global perspective through an international guest speaker, Ms. Kao Menghorng, AJYELN Cambodia Fellow, who shared experiences related to ocean conservation, waste reduction, and youth-driven environmental movements across different countries. This session emphasized the importance of cross-cultural collaboration and collective action, illustrating how local initiatives can contribute to broader regional and global environmental impact. Participants were encouraged to view plastic pollution not only as a local issue, but as part of a shared global challenge requiring coordinated responses.
Collectively, the webinar aimed to achieve multiple outcomes: enhancing scientific understanding of plastic pollution, encouraging critical reflection on individual and collective responsibility, and motivating youth participation by showcasing practical pathways for action. By integrating scientific knowledge, personal narratives, and global perspectives, the program sought to empower young participants to move beyond awareness toward informed and proactive engagement in sustainability initiatives.
Outcome
Overall, the “ReThink Plastic” Webinar successfully strengthened participants’ environmental knowledge, increased youth motivation and personal responsibility toward sustainability, and broadened understanding of plastic pollution as both a local and global challenge. By integrating scientific learning, youth inspiration, and international perspectives, the event effectively prepared participants for active engagement in the upcoming Beach Clean-up activities while fostering connections among young people and environmental advocates to support continued collective action. To further encourage participation, the webinar included a small interactive award segment in which one attendee received a reusable water bottle and fabric tote bag, sponsored by Grac Tech. This collaboration highlighted the importance of private-sector involvement in sustainability efforts and reinforced practical, everyday actions to reduce plastic use.
The success of the session was further reflected in the volume and depth of questions raised by students and young adults, as follows:
- “As an individual who practices a green lifestyle, what do you think is the greatest impact you realized from it and what significant impact has it had on your way of thinking and living?”
- “According to Dr./Mr. Huynh Tan Loi, how can we raise environmental awareness among the youth so that it does not stop at activism but becomes an integral part of everyone’s daily lifestyle, especially in coastal areas directly affected by plastic waste?”
- “Are there currently practical methods or solutions to address the situation of food waste?”
- “Is adapting to a polluted environment more feasible than attempting to reverse the pollution itself?”
- “Why is there no greater emphasis on finding ways to decompose existing plastic waste, instead of advocating against plastic use (a necessary but slow-progressing measure)?”
- “Many people are interested in the green lifestyle, and celebrities share many tips on social media, but are these truly effective, and what benefits does the green lifestyle bring to individuals and the environment?”
The thoughtful and challenging nature of these inquiries demonstrated that the webinar stimulated critical thinking and moved participants beyond passive engagement. Discussions revealed that environmental issues—particularly plastic pollution, waste management, and sustainable lifestyles—are deeply felt concerns among youth, who are actively seeking both systemic and personal solutions. Questions addressed topics such as the real-life impact of adopting a green lifestyle, strategies shared by Huỳnh Tấn Lợi for embedding environmental awareness into daily practices (especially in coastal communities), practical approaches to food waste management, and broader debates on whether society should adapt to pollution or prioritize its reversal. Collectively, these reflections underscored that environmental sustainability is not a passing trend, but a complex and urgent issue that young people are eager to address through informed and meaningful action.
Feedback
Participants showed strong motivation to engage with environmental issues and “Rethink Plastic” driven by a strong sense of personal and ethical responsibility, viewing environmental protection as synonymous with human protection and expressing a desire to heal the Earth. This urgency stems from observing the real-world impact of plastic waste on ecosystems and human health, particularly in coastal areas, which fuels a commitment to action, including changing personal habits and participating in initiatives like plogging. Furthermore, there is a clear aspiration for deeper learning and education, focusing not just on reducing plastic but on rethinking the entire product lifecycle. Many seek to understand effective solutions and leverage the power of awareness education and leading by example to inspire broader community change, specifically aiming to align with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
