Continuing the Journey: When Waste Is Reborn into a Sustainable Future

When the PAN project (Plastic Action Network), implemented by GreenHub, officially came to a close in 2021, it was not a full stop but rather the beginning of a new chapter, one that was more self-reliant and resilient. Taking up the torch from PAN, the GreenU Social Enterprise continued to serve as a companion, directly coaching and mentoring two start-up initiatives built on plastic waste by the Women's Union. From those first foundational bricks, the journey of "turning waste into flowers" has truly borne fruit, affirming the standing of women in the green economy.

GreenLife Ha Long Cooperative: Standing Firm on Its Own in the Heart of a World Heritage Site (2024 – 2025)

From a small production workshop where Ms. Huong once struggled to find her way, and under the strategic guidance of GreenU, the GreenLife Ha Long Cooperative was established and has undergone a remarkable transformation. During the 2024 – 2025 period, GreenLife no longer depended on short-term funding sources or support networks, but had fully established a self-sustaining business ecosystem.

Technological innovation and product diversification: Moving beyond the simple shopping bags and the clumsy stitching of the early days, GreenLife Ha Long has professionalised its process for treating old advertising tarpaulins, banners and scrap fabric. The GreenLife-branded lines of fashionable backpacks, canvas bags combined with recycled tarpaulin, and premium office stationery now achieve a high level of refinement, keeping pace with the market's green-living trends.
Capturing the green tourism market: Located right at the heart of the World Heritage region, the cooperative has signed strategic partnerships with the Ha Long Bay tourist boat associations, as well as major hotel and resort chains. GreenLife's products no longer stop at Phu Quoc as in previous years, but have become the "must-buy" green souvenirs for international visitors coming to Quang Ninh.
Outstanding revenue and sustainable livelihoods: From a modest revenue figure of 100 million dong in the early days, by the 2024 – 2025 period the cooperative had achieved stable growth. Most importantly, GreenLife has created jobs with stable incomes for dozens of local women workers, especially disadvantaged women, helping them achieve economic independence and enhance their standing within the family.

The Ha Trung – Ha Lam Recycled Basket: “Closing One Journey, Opening a New Path”

Alongside the breakthrough of GreenLife Ha Long, the start-up model based on plastic strapping used to bind bricks, run by Ms. Dao Huyen in Ha Trung, also stood before a historic turning point. The idea originated from her concern over the thick columns of black smoke caused by the burning of waste plastic strapping in the past, and it has now become a proud green symbol.

By the end of 2025, marking a full six years since the first recycled baskets were made, Ms. Dao Huyen made a courageous and far-reaching decision: to hand over and expand the model in a community-based direction.

"Closing one journey, opening a new path for the Ha Trung basket brand."

After laying the foundations and developing the Ha Trung recycled basket brand, Recycling has officially handed it over to a successor to continue maintaining, spreading and developing it.

This handover does not diminish the core values, but rather expands the scale from a single livelihood group into a broader community-linked model between Ha Trung and Ha Lam. From here, the Ha Trung – Ha Lam basket brand is no longer the product of just a few individuals, but has become a shared livelihood for the women's chapters of the mining region.

Reborn stronger, with more "character" and more "green": The brand's successor continues to improve the technique of weaving plastic strapping fibres, applying modern colour combinations and blending in other environmentally friendly materials to elevate the aesthetic of the products. The Ha Trung basket is now not only for going to the market, but also appears at events and in the sustainable fashion photo shoots of young people.
Words of gratitude and a commitment to accompany: The journey of the past seven years is a testament to the power of kindness and love for the environment. Women who once lacked confidence, believing that entrepreneurship existed only on television, have now confidently mastered technology, taken charge of their own lives, and become a powerful source of inspiration for the community.

The PAN project has ended; a project has ended, but the spirit and values it left behind are still flowing on. Thanks to the timely support from GreenU and, above all, the extraordinary inner determination of the women of Ha Long, waste has truly been transformed into blossoms of livelihood. The steadfastness of the GreenLife Ha Long Cooperative and the powerful rebirth of the Ha Trung – Ha Lam basket brand during the 2024 – 2025 period are the most resounding answer to the leadership capacity and contribution of women to the circular economy in Vietnam.

We hope that everyone will continue to accompany and support us, so that these recycled baskets and bags may travel ever further, keeping our heritage sites and homeland forever green.

Contact:

https://www.facebook.com/daothihuyenht

https://www.facebook.com/GreenLifeHaLongQN