ALTA GROUP AND SAIGON CO.OP COLLABORATE TO DEVELOP A WASTE CIRCULAR MODEL
Ho Chi Minh City, April 12, 2024 – The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Trade Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Winrock International. Under this agreement, both parties committed to reducing environmental pollution by developing a waste circular model, enhancing source segregation, and promoting extended producer responsibility (EPR). As part of the program, Saigon Co.op also signed agreements with Tan Binh Cultural Joint Stock Company (ALTA Group) and Green Connect Joint Stock Company. These two organizations will implement the program at Saigon Co.op’s retail locations. This collaboration is part of the USAID-funded Pollution Reduction Project, which is managed and implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in partnership with Winrock International.
The Signing Ceremony Between Saigon Co.op and Winrock International.
As part of the waste circular model pilot program, Saigon Co.op and ALTA Group have installed plastic bottle collection machines at 12 Co.opmart supermarkets across Ho Chi Minh City. During the signing ceremony, ALTA Group also expanded the initiative by installing an additional plastic bottle collection machine at Saigon Co.op’s office in Binh Thanh District, aiming to increase accessibility and encourage broader community participation in waste recycling efforts.
The Signing Ceremony Between ALTA Group, Saigon Co.op, and Green Connect.
The plastic bottle collection machine system is part of the GREEnfinity project, focusing on environmental protection technology to build a plastic pollution-free planet. Each empty plastic bottle or aluminum can deposited accumulates reward points, which can be redeemed for shopping vouchers on e-commerce platforms. The program is piloted in Ho Chi Minh City from March 2024 to January 2025, after which it will be studied for expansion across the entire system.
The plastic bottle collection machine utilizes advanced AI technology to automatically identify, sort, and collect used plastic bottles and aluminum cans, contributing to the enforcement of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The device operates with a simple process: users only need to insert plastic bottles or aluminum cans into the recycling slot, and the machine will automatically recognize and process them. The recycled materials collected can later be used as materials for 3D printing and for manufacturing display products.
The Welcome Ceremony and Launch of the Plastic Bottle and Aluminum Can Collection System at Saigon Co.op Office.
Through this collaboration, the parties work together to maximize their potential in achieving a common goal: reducing waste and environmental pollution, promoting green transformation in production and business activities, and raising environmental awareness within the community.
Mr. John Harris – Deputy Director of the Office of Climate Change, Energy, and Environment, Mr. Lê Trường Sơn – Deputy General Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Trade Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op), and Ms. Diệp Hồng Di – Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Saigon Co.op, are experiencing the process of depositing plastic bottles.
Tan Binh Cultural Joint Stock Company – ALTA Group was established in 1989 and operates in multiple sectors, including information technology, plastic packaging, machinery manufacturing, cosmetics, and financial investment. Over the years, ALTA Group has built a strong reputation and has become a trusted partner for many organizations, businesses, and individuals across the country.
Saigon Co.op – Established in 1989, it is a cooperative economic organization operating under the principles of collective ownership, autonomous business operations, and self-responsibility. With over 30 years of development, Saigon Co.op has successfully built a prominent cooperative brand at both the national and regional levels.
Green Connect Joint Stock Company – Established in January 2020, Green Connect is a technology start-up based in Ho Chi Minh City.Founded with the mission of creating an ecosystem of green technology products, Green Connect aims to inspire and lead the green living and consumption trend, ensuring a sustainable future.
