SEAToday.com, Ho Chi Minh-As a country, Vietnam generates 15 million tons of waste per year, with a significant contribution from its two largest cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. To solve the waste problem, Vietnam started adopting a zero-waste lifestyle in 2017.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the zero-waste lifestyle is implemented in various aspects, and it has become one of the city's highlights. If you are also into this kind of lifestyle and love to read, there is one place you might want to visit.

A library called Leafy Home, located in an old house on Hoa Hung Street in District 10, Ho Chi Minh City. Functioning as more than just a free library, this space is a hub for fostering a sense of community and promoting a sustainable zero-waste lifestyle.

Here, visitors can read books for free, and buy secondhand goods. This library also collects items for recycling purposes.

Nhi, one of the staff said, “Leafy Home goes beyond being just a library. It catalyzes inspiring environmentally conscious living. The venue hosts various events that encourage a zero-waste lifestyle including activities such as old clothes exchange, battery exchange, and plastic bottle exchange in return for plants. These initiatives not only promote sustainability but also contribute to building a sense of community engagement.”

Leafy Home organizes pop-up secondhand markets where visitors can find unique items while supporting the principles of recycling and reusing. The establishment also offers refill stations for household essentials like shampoo, floor cleansers, and dish cleaners. They also sell a range of recycled products including plant pots, tissues, and dining utensils crafted from repurposed paper and bottles.

Selling is how the organization makes profits to maintain environmental activities. Challenges ahead but what they are doing has had a certain influence on some citizens in Ho Chi Minh City on the zero-waste lifestyle. (DKD/TRANG)