Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen

Vietnamese environmental engineer revolutionizing plastic waste management through community-driven recycling systems

Nguyen Thi Hoang Yen is a Vietnamese environmental engineer whose Green Wave Vietnam initiative has transformed plastic waste management practices across Southeast Asia. Starting in 2020, her grassroots approach combines smart recycling infrastructure with education programs to tackle Vietnam's plastic pollution crisis - the country ranks 4th globally in ocean plastic contributions. Yen's system uses AI-powered waste sorting robots and decentralized collection points that incentivize participation through cryptocurrency rewards. This model increased recycling rates from 5% to 45% in pilot communities within 18 months.

Innovative partnerships with local fisheries led to the Plastic for Fish program, where fishers receive 10% premium prices for catches if they return collected ocean plastics. Over 1,200 fishing communities now participate, recovering 15 million kg of marine plastic annually. Yen's Eco-Brick Construction project uses recycled materials to build affordable housing, creating 500+ jobs for marginalized women in Ho Chi Minh City. Her TEDxHCMC talk "From Pollution to Prosperity" has been translated into 15 languages and inspired similar initiatives in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Yen's 2023 collaboration with UNEP established Asia's first circular economy certification system for small businesses. Her team's research on biodegradable packaging alternatives made from sugarcane waste is now being tested by major Vietnamese food manufacturers. Recognized by Forbes Asia's 2024 30 Under 30, she advocates for policy changes through her role in the ASEAN Circular Economy Network. Green Wave's impact report shows a 70% reduction in river plastic levels in program areas and annual CO2 savings equivalent to planting 2 million trees.