Consumer Health Sector Commits to Industry-Wide Environmental Charter

GENEVA, Nov. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  The Global Self-Care Federation (GSCF) has today announced the launch of the Charter for Environmentally Sustainable Self-Care, the first global commitment from the consumer health industry to drive sustainable self-care.

The Charter aims to reduce the impact of self-care products on the environment, while ensuring better health outcomes, product safety and access to effective treatment options. Self-care products include medicines available over the counter without prescription (OTC), food supplements including minerals and vitamins, and self-care medical devices.

GSCF members, including consumer health manufacturers and associations, have made a range of commitments as part of the Charter for Environmentally Sustainable Self-Care, based on their individual sustainability programs. The Charter is focuses on three priority areas where the industry has the greatest impact and influence: Plastics and Packaging, Pharmaceuticals in the Environment and CO2Footprint.

Members have pledged to reduce plastics and packaging wherever possible, striving for circular design in self-care products. The industry continues to take measures to reduce the presence of pharmaceuticals in the environment, which include promoting the safe disposal of unused medication for example via take-back schemes. With respect to carbon, GSCF members and the broader industry are adopting emissions reduction targets that accelerate the transition to the low carbon economy, in line with the Paris Agreement.

Judy Stenmark, Director General at GSCF, said, “Voluntary and proactive action across the consumer health industry is essential to find urgent, sustainable solutions to address the sector’s environmental impact. That’s why I am very pleased to see the Charter come to fruition at a time when we are truly seeing a collective global movement from business to address sustainability, both through making tangible commitments and delivering on them. The Charter provides an ambitious platform for all our members globally to drive innovation in sustainability.”

“Minimising the impact of self-care products on the environment while safeguarding access to effective treatment and well-being options for people is a critical issue for the consumer health industry. Member companies have already embarked on the sustainability journey individually; with the Charter we establish a platform for good practice sharing and collaboration with an objective to create collective actions and move the needle forward,” commented Jurate Svarcaite, Director General at AESGP. 

Find out more about the Charter for Environmentally Sustainable Self-Care.
 

About The Global Self-Care Federation

The Global Self-Care Federation represents associations and manufacturers in the self-care industry, promoting sustainable and better global health outcomes for all. The Global Self-Care Federation is the go-to source of information for the self-care industry. We work closely with our members and relevant stakeholder groups to deliver better choice, better care and better value. By placing the benefits of self-care at the heart of what we do, promoting industry transparency, and supporting the regulated use of health data, we ensure that self-care continues to play its increasingly vital role in sustainable healthcare, worldwide. More information please visit: www.selfcarefederation.org

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President Nguyen Xuan Phuc leaves for official visits to Switzerland, Russia

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc left Hanoi on November 25 night to make official visits to Switzerland and Russia from November 25 to December 2.

The Vietnamese President’s visit to Switzerland and Russia is made at the invitation of his Swiss counterpart Guy Parmelin and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. This is Phuc’s first official visits to European countries as President of Vietnam.

He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang, Chairman of the Presidential Office Le Khanh Hai, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son and Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat.

The entourage also include officials from many ministries, agencies of the Party, the National Assembly, and some provinces and cities.

President Phuc’s visit to Switzerland continues to affirm the foreign policy defined by the 13th National Party Congress, which pursues independence, diversification and multilateralization of external relations, while further deepening bilateral relations, enhancing trust and lifting Vietnam’s role in multilateral institutions through proactive engagement and active contribution.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President arrives in Geneva, starting official visit to Switzerland

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in Geneva, Switzerland on November 26 morning (local time), beginning his official visit to the European country at an invitation of his Swiss counterpart Guy Parmelin.

The President, his spouse and the Vietnamese delegation at Geneva International Airport were welcomed at the airport by representatives from the Swiss Foreign Ministry and Geneva administration, and Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the UN, World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, among others.

Vietnam and Switzerland established their diplomatic ties on October 11, 1971. Since then, the bilateral relations have developed well in all aspects, especially in politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, development cooperation, and education and training.

Within the framework of his visit which lasts until November 29, Phuc is expected to hold talks with his counterpart Guy Parmelin, and meet with President of the Swiss National Council Andreas Aebi. He will also have meetings with the Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, and the Director-General of the World Intelligence Property Organisation (WIPO)

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Denmark assists Vietnam to improve quality of official statistics

Denmark will support Vietnam with 6.5 million DKK (about 1 million USD) to carry out a project on improving the quality of official statistics.

The General Statistics Office (GSO) of Vietnam and Statistics Denmark signed the project agreement via videoconference on November 26.

The 30-month project will focus on using administrative data for producing population, migration, and education statistics; and optimising chances for using big data to produce statistics and build the first economic – environmental accounting system for Vietnam. GSO General Director Nguyen Thi Huong pledged close cooperation with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, and Statistics Denmark to carry out the project successfully.

Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Højlund Christensen said Statistics Denmark will work closely with the GSO and relevant ministries and sectors in Vietnam to share knowledge and experience.

Meanwhile, Director General of Statistics Denmark Birgitte Anker expressed her hope for effective cooperation with the GSO, and that this partnership will provide more information about the Vietnamese society, serving as a basis for making evidence-based decisions and monitoring international agenda like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Since 2015, the two countries have signed strategic sector cooperation programmes in the fields of health care, education, food safety, and recently statistics with a view to promoting sustainable and responsible growth, employment, and prosperity in Vietnam.

Under those programmes, governmental agencies of Denmark have set up partnerships with Vietnamese ministries and sectors to share knowledge and experience related to priority issues and matching demand in Vietnam.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Young intellectuals actively contribute ideas for national development

Young Vietnamese intellectuals from around the world enthusiastically contributed their ideas and shared expertise and knowledge on innovation with a view to helping promoting the digital transformation process in their home land at a forum that closed on November 26.

The fourth forum of young Vietnamese intellectuals across the globe opened on November 25, attracting the participation of 177 representatives from Vietnam and 16 countries and territories.

The two-day forum provided a chance for young Vietnamese intellectuals both at home and abroad to examine ways to contribute to the national digital transformation programme by 2025, with a vision for 2030.

At the event, participants registered two projects to implement the national programme.

In his closing remarks, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and President of the Vietnam Youth Union Nguyen Ngoc Luong said recommendations and suggestions of the youth delegates will be submitted to relevant agencies for consideration.

The global forum of young Vietnamese intellectuals was first held in 2018. It aims to offers a venue for young intellectuals to propose mechanisms to foster talents in an effective and practical way, thus encouraging young intellectuals to proactively contribute to the national cause of reform and innovation.

It also allows the intellectuals to reveal their initiatives, solutions and recommendations to the Party and State towards the goal of sustainable national development.

The forum is also a channel for the Government and agencies to place orders for suggestions from the young intellectuals regarding national development.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President extends condolences over Russia’s coal mine accident

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on November 26 sent a message of condolences to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over casualties in an accident at Listvyazhnaya mine in the Kemerovo Region a day earlier.

According to the latest data, a total of 52 people, including six rescuers, were killed in the accident in the Belovsky district of Kuzbass, TASS news agency reported.

Meanwhile, the number of people hurt in the accident has increased to 57.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Masan honoured with Asia sustainability award

Masan Group Corporation has obtained the Community Initiative Award at the 2021 Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards.

The awards honour companies and individuals in Asia across a variety of leadership and corporate social responsibility categories, with the Community Initiative Award given to organisations that make great contributions to creating development opportunities for communities through their initiatives and approaches.

The winners are chosen based on growth, human resources, creativity, and brand influence in Asia and their commitment to sustainable development goals.

In its eighth year now, the award saw 154 finalists selected from 420 nominations from 15 countries.

Masan is known as the leading consumer goods and retail corporation in Vietnam with a market capitalisation of 8 billion USD. The company said it considers sustainable development as a strategy to make a meaningful contribution to the development of communities.

In 2020, the company spent over 30 billion VND (1.32 million USD) to community activities. It donated more than 270 billion VND to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Female footballers called to prepare for Asian Cup finals

Twenty-eight players will be called to prepare for the final round of the 2022 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup in India, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Head coach Mai Duc Chung said aside from some new faces like Tran Thi Hai Linh and Dao Thi Kieu Oanh, those who have recovered from injuries such as Pham Thi Tuoi and Nguyen Thi Lieu will also be gathered.

Most of the ones attending the qualifiers are maintained since Vietnam will face strong rivals in the final round, namely Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Myanmar.

The squad are still being rejuvenated, but this time’s task needs footballers experienced in playing at international tourneys, Chung noted.

The women’s national football team will have their first training session at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre in Hanoi on November 28.

VFF Secretary-General Le Hoai Anh said the federation is liaising with international partners to arrange overseas training for the team before going to India for the Asian Cup finals. As the team will have to face very strong rivals and there aren’t many chances, the preparation process needs to create the most favourable conditions for them to have the best morale.

Source: Vietnam News Agency