Brewer picks up award in Programme on Benchmarking and Announcing Sustainable Companies in Vietnam for second consecutive year.
Heineken Vietnam has been recognized as the most sustainable company in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector for the second consecutive year.
The honor, presented at an awards ceremony held in Hanoi of the Programme on Benchmarking and Announcing Sustainable Companies in Vietnam 2018, marks the third year Heineken Vietnam has been named in the top three since the program’s launch in 2016.
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, Mr. Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), and government officials from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE), the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL), and other government agencies, and nearly 400 representatives from national and international organizations and the business community.
The Programme on Benchmarking and Ranking Sustainable Companies in Vietnam was initiated by the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD), with guidance from VCCI, in 2016.
To promote sustainable development within Vietnam’s business community, the program uses the Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) as the base criteria for rankings and celebrates the most sustainable companies in the country. These are organizations making the most significant contributions to supporting the National Sustainability Agenda and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Vietnam.
The CSI was further aligned this year with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and other international practices. The CSI can be applied by any member of the business community, regardless of their scale or sector, and is a form of sustainability reporting.
The Programme on Benchmarking and Ranking Sustainable Companies in Vietnam and the CSI stem from Resolution No. 19-2018/NQ-CP, which aims at continuously improving the business climate and enhancing national productivity and competitiveness.
This year’s program received almost 500 applications from the business community. Despite the significantly higher number of applications this year, Heineken Vietnam maintained its position as the most sustainable manufacturing company in Vietnam.
Heineken was also recognized on stage as one of the few organizations in the top ten for three consecutive years.
“Being named the most sustainable manufacturing company in Vietnam for the second consecutive year is a wonderful honor for everyone at Heineken Vietnam,” said Mr. Matt Wilson, Corporate Affairs Director at Heineken Vietnam. “It is also a great challenge for us to uphold this high standard and raise the bar further, but we are up for the challenge.”
“We want to continue to push ourselves and inspire other businesses in Vietnam to create more sustainable value. We believe that with significant support from the Vietnamese Government and increasing dedication from members of the business community, together we can build a better future for Vietnam.”
Both Heineken’s global and local Vietnamese sustainability strategy are designed to support the UN’s SDGs. Heineken’s approach covers their entire value chain, from manufacturing to distribution and consumption.
Heineken Vietnam’s sustainability strategy focuses on six key areas and supports the implementation of eight of the 17 SDGs where the company believes it can have the greatest impact in Vietnam: Advocating Responsible Consumption, Promoting Health and Safety, Protecting Water Resources, Reducing CO2 Emissions, Growing with Communities, and Sourcing Sustainably.
Heineken Vietnam has contributed to protecting the planet by using renewable energy, reducing water consumption, and moving towards zero waste to landfill in production. Its breweries are the most water-efficient across the Heineken Asia Pacific Region. Ninety-nine per cent of its waste and by-products from production are reused or recycled, creating virtually zero waste.
In terms of economic impact, Heineken Vietnam contributes 0.88 per cent of Vietnam’s total GDP and supported 158,000 jobs in 2017, both directly through its operations and indirectly through its value chain.
Heineken Vietnam is also committed to working with both the Vietnamese Government and other members of the business community in Vietnam to further encourage sustainable development.
At the National Conference on Sustainable Development 2018, held earlier this year in Hanoi and chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, Heineken Vietnam was recognized by representatives from the government and the business community as an excellent example of implementing innovative sustainability initiatives, enhancing competitiveness, and providing long-term socioeconomic benefits in Vietnam.
My Van report on Vneconomictimes
