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GREEN ASPHALT - From plastic waste to infrastructure

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SDG 13: Climate Action

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GLC Members

Nhat-Hai Dao (Vietnam)
Sumeshini Subramaniam (Malaysia)
Lemi Chala Tamire (Ethiopia)
Renata Varea (Fiji)

The project transforms plastic waste in Vietnam into sustainable infrastructure by converting recycled plastic into green asphalt for road construction. It addresses the dual challenges of plastic pollution and carbon emissions while creating jobs, improving infrastructure, and fostering climate resilience.

GREEN ASPHALT - From plastic waste to infrastructure

Vietnam produces 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, but less than 30% is recycled. This leads to severe environmental issues, including greenhouse gas emissions from degrading plastic in landfills and ocean pollution. The project aims to tackle this crisis by turning plastic waste into green asphalt for road construction, an approach successfully implemented in Malaysia and other countries.

Beyond technical innovation, the project integrates creative awareness campaigns, such as virtual art galleries, to engage communities in understanding and addressing plastic pollution. This participatory approach fosters behavioral change and collective responsibility for environmental sustainability.

The impact of this project is twofold:

Short-term: It creates employment opportunities, enhances local infrastructure, and reduces waste accumulation in landfills and waterways.
Long-term: It establishes a circular waste management system that lowers carbon footprints, supports climate resilience, and contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
The project's success relies on three key pillars:

Innovation – Developing sustainable construction solutions using recycled plastic.
Education – Raising awareness through artistic and digital storytelling methods.
Collaboration – Partnering with local stakeholders to scale solutions and maximize impact.
This initiative demonstrates that climate leadership is not limited to governments or corporations—it begins with individuals and communities taking action. By transforming waste into valuable resources, the project paves the way for a greener, more sustainable future.

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