Create a "green footprint" from packaging

After a period of working together on individual environmental protection activities, a group of eight second-year students at FPT University (Hanoi) officially established the "Green Imprint" project.

The project is a collection of packaging with the desire to spread awareness of environmental protection from the smallest things.

"We observed that many people still have the habit of collecting plastic bottles to sell as scrap, but most of the packaging such as snack wrappers, instant noodles, candy boxes, etc. is thrown straight into the trash. No one thinks that a family can throw away dozens of such packaging every day. That reality has motivated us to start with packaging," said Pham Duc Vuong, Project Leader.

Not stopping at the call, the group decided to directly collect and recycle seemingly useless materials into handmade products such as coasters, keychains, bracelets, etc. to spread the message of environmental protection.

Currently, the group operates mainly at two collection points: FPT University (Thach Hoa Commune, Thach That District, Hanoi ) on weekdays and the end of Ham Nghi Street (Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi) on weekends. Expanding the location is not easy.

"When discussing the issue with restaurants, many places are afraid of trouble, worrying about affecting aesthetics or having to manage more waste. As for public places like parks or schools, because we are not legal entities, it is difficult to get a license to place collection bins," Vuong said.

Funding was also a big obstacle for the group. From designing trash cans, printing documents to transportation costs, the group had to handle everything themselves. However, instead of giving up, the group chose to persistently convince friendly restaurants, dormitories, and stores, from which they built a model to gradually expand.

Green living by action

Not wanting the project to stop at slogans, the group of students soon developed recycling ideas. The packaging was cleaned, pressed, rolled and woven into bracelets, storage plates, pencil cases, and sometimes even became products displayed in workshops.

In addition, the group connects with individuals and that do creative recycling to learn more about organizations material processing techniques. "We want to spread the message of green living not only through words but also through recycled products from waste," said the group leader.

There is no need to live a perfect green life, just every day after eating a pack of noodles, drinking a carton of milk, do not throw the packaging away. Put them in the right place. If everyone did that small thing, the environment around us would be very different.

Green Seal Group

In the near future, the group plans to organize an exhibition at their school to introduce recycled products, combined with a workshop to guide students in making handicrafts from packaging, creating a close experience for students.

One of the group's biggest challenges is the human factor. "Students study a lot and play hard. If the media is not skillful, the message of green living can easily be overlooked," said group leader Pham Duc Vuong.

That's why the group chose to ask questions instead of calling out. "Where do the wrappers go after eating a snack? If 100 people put them in the sorting bin, what would be different?", questions like these appear in the group's minigames, TikTok clips, and Facebook posts.

Small but effective, the workshops and handmade products are well received not only for their creativity, but also for the message they convey. What the group hopes for after each exhibition is not to be complimented on their beauty, but for someone to start thinking differently about the way they live and consume.

There is a memory that the group still remembers forever, that is when they were tinkering with making their first recycled product at school, a cleaning lady passed by, stopped to look and exclaimed: "Why does trash look so beautiful!". "We were really touched when we heard that and were sure that what we did was not small," a member of the group shared.

Although the project has no official funding source, the group remains steadfast in its goal: Gradually expanding its activities to other universities, then towards high schools to sow the seeds of environmental protection awareness early.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/tao-dau-an-xanh-tu-vo-bao-bi-20250702112334231.htm