A sea of ​​bright turquoise bags and blue shirts are scattered around Ward 7 Market in Tuy Hoa city. Woven among bright, colorful stacks of fruits and the banging of meat cleavers, the vibrant blue still stands out and carries an important message with it. Each woman wielding a turquoise bag made from up-cycled fishnets is part of a club dedicated to cutting plastic use at the market.

Photo: Members of the "Zero Plastic Waste Shopper" Club using mesh bags and plastic containers as alternatives to plastic bags at the market.

Ms. To Thi My Thuy is the determined leader of the “Zero Plastic Waste Shopper” Club. Chairwoman of the Ward 7 Women’s Union, she’s no stranger to forging strong community connections and harnessed her passion to mobilize Women’s Union members, market vendors and customers to cut single-use plastics out of their shopping routine.

For Ms. Thuy, reducing plastic at the market isn't only about tackling waste but creating a proactive and positive community committed to environmental protection.

“We choose a ‘green lifestyle’ for our children, for the environment, and for ourselves,” Ms. Thuy shares.

Photo: Ms. Thuy participating in a workshop to share experiences from the "Zero Plastic Waste Shopper" Club's activities.

Ms. Tran Thi Binh, a small vendor at the market, echoes Ms. Thuy’s sentiment, “And all of this is for our future. Women who go to the market should not use plastic bags to protect the environment.”

Photo: Ms. Binh selling goods and encouraging customers to avoid using plastic bags by offering discounts.

Not all market vendors and customers were so enthusiastic when the project began however, with a ‘fear of change and fear of inconvenience’ hindering early adoption of reuses, according to Ms. Thuy. While vendors were worried about losing customers if they refused plastic bags or suggested reuses, customers feared feeling isolated in their refusal of plastic. Recognizing the unique challenges on both sides, Ms. Thuy established both a customer and vendor club, creating a network and support system. Now, vendors and customers proudly buzz around the market with fishnet bags and club uniforms, snapping photos to share in their Zalo group.

Both clubs were established and trained with the support of GreenHub, as part of our "Reducing Plastic Waste through Zero Waste Practice” project.

Working with Ms. Thuy and the Women's Union, we combine awareness raising, community building and practical solutions to promote sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic. Club members now come armed with reusable containers and bags to shop at the market, often frequenting vendors who are part of the vendors club and happy to pack goods in reusable containers.

"I reduce 30 plastic bags a day. I wrap customers' items with banana leaves and newspapers, I don't use plastic bags,” says Ms. Le Thi Kim Bong, a small vendor in the market.

Photo: Ms. Bong standing next to her “Zero Plastic Bags” market stall.

In just three months of piloting the model, Ms. Thuy felt a change in the community. At this time, more than 10,000 plastic bags per month were reduced by the efforts of nearly 200 club members, saving costs for vendors and helping create a cleaner market environment.

"When I joined the Club, I felt very happy because I was contributing to protecting the environment and protecting the health of all of us,” said Ms. Ha Thi Quyet, a member of the club.

Photo: Ms. Quyet and fellow club members shopping without using plastic bags.

The project “Reducing Plastic Waste through Zero Waste in Phu Yen province” was implemented by GreenHub and supported by Pacific Environment Vietnam.