The picturesque coastal town of Cam Ranh in Southern Vietnam recently announced the decision to take action against plastic waste, with the region’s hotel industry coming together to establish a pioneering local plant dedicated to upcycling all forms of plastic waste.
Leading the charge is the “End Plastic Soup in Cam Ranh” campaign, a collaborative effort involving Alma Resort, The Anam Cam Ranh, and Moevenpick Cam Ranh, along with support from 10 other resorts on the Cam Ranh peninsula. The initiative commenced with an extensive two-day clean-up operation along Long Beach on June 17-18.
Unprecedented Community Participation
Approximately 300 volunteers from participating hotels, Vietnam‘s Rotary Clubs, and local schools came together for the weekend beach clean-up. Their combined efforts yielded an impressive 1.5 tons of plastic waste collected from the 15-kilometre-long Long Beach, all destined for upcycling. The event’s success was commemorated with a warm welcome dinner hosted at Alma on June 17.
Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, the managing director of Alma Resort, expressed the hospitality industry’s determination to work alongside Rotary Club Saigon International to support the Rotary-initiated “End Plastic Soup” project and establish a cutting-edge upcycling plant in Cam Ranh capable of processing all types of plastics.
Taking Responsibility for the Environment
The hotels involved in the campaign are Aquamarine Resort, Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa, Selectum Noa Resort, Ana Mandara Resort Cam Ranh, Melia Vinpearl Cam Ranh Beach Resort, Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh, Swandor Cam Ranh, The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh, Wyndham Garden Cam Ranh Resort, and The Arena Cam Ranh Resort.
Vietnam has emerged as a significant contributor to global plastic waste, with staggering statistics reported by the World Bank. An estimated 3.1 million tons of plastic waste are dumped on land annually, and between 0.28 and 0.73 million tons find their way into the ocean each year.
An Ambitious Global Vision
The “End Plastic Soup in Cam Ranh” campaign aligns with the broader environmental goals of the global “End Plastic Soup” project, actively supported by thousands of dedicated Rotarians worldwide. The project’s overarching objective is to eliminate “plastic soup” from oceans and seas and to eradicate plastic waste from lakes, rivers, forests, parks, and streets by the year 2050.
The Rotary Club Saigon International, a community-based organization and part of Rotary International, stands as one of the world’s largest service organizations. Their mission revolves around serving others, fostering integrity, and advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace through collaboration among business, professional, and community leaders.
In conclusion, the united efforts of Cam Ranh’s hospitality industry, along with Rotary Club Saigon International’s unwavering support, mark a pivotal step towards tackling plastic waste and creating a sustainable future for the region. With their dedicated upcycling plant on the horizon, Cam Ranh sets a shining example of collective action and responsible stewardship for the rest of the world to follow.