BASF and Yunus Environment Hub have joined forces on BASF’s Starting Ventures program supporting Vietnam’s informal waste sector a crucial link in tackling the nation’s plastic waste challenge. The project focuses on improving safety, efficiency, and income for waste workers, empowering them as micro-entrepreneurs.
YEH supports with on the ground training for informal waste workers on:
- Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) practices
- Entrepreneurial and financial skills to formalize and professionalize junk shops and micro waste businesses
Addressing local challenges
Bình Khánh Commune, located on the edge of the former Cần Giờ District, faces significant waste management challenges. The community produces nearly 15,000 tons of household waste annually, yet less than 15% is collected and recycled.
Informal waste workers many of them women between 40 and 60 years old earn just $4 to $8 a day, often without social security and with limited safety protection. Supporting them is not only a matter of livelihood, but also a cornerstone in tackling the city’s growing plastic waste problem.
Building skills and safety
Through the Eco-Guardians program, participants are gaining tools to improve both efficiency and safety. The training series combines environmental awareness with business and financial knowledge, equipping workers to increase income potential while reducing occupational risks. In addition to the training delivered by YEH, BASF supported the informal workers through the distribution of PPE equipment and bicycles to support the project ambitions.
“With this initiative, we aim to improve the lives of waste collectors and underscore their roles as eco-guardians in the joint efforts towards Ho Chi Minh City’s solid waste treatment planning by 2030 and Vietnam’s ambitious Net Zero target by 2050,” said Erick Contreras, Managing Director of BASF Vietnam.
Driving broader change
Vietnam generates over 8,000 tons of plastic waste each day, recycling less than 30%. Plastics account for up to 80% of marine waste in the country, underscoring the urgent need for systemic solutions.
By empowering informal workers who are already on the frontlines of waste management, the Eco-Guardians program contributes directly to Ho Chi Minh City’s solid waste treatment plan and aligns with Vietnam’s 2050 Net Zero targets.
Empowering eco-guardians
The first workshop, held on October 9, 2025, gathered more than 100 waste workers in Bình Khánh Commune. Participants received hands-on training in environment, health and safety (EHS) practices, as well as entrepreneurial skills to help them grow as micro-entrepreneurs.
A second session for another 100 participants is planned by the end of the year.
Partnerships for a circular future
The initiative reflects the power of collaboration between BASF Starting Ventures and Yunus Environment Hub. Together, we are working to transform waste challenges into opportunities for circular growth beginning in Bình Khánh Commune.
Images by BASF.
