Green transformation, big businesses can do it, small businesses worry about the high cost

The initial investment to implement green transformation and digital transformation in production is very large, large-scale enterprises can do it but most small enterprises face financial difficulties.

Many experts believe that green transformation and digital transformation are inevitable trends in production - Photo: B.NGOC

The concern was raised by many experts and managers at the annual sustainable development conference, with the theme of pioneering dual transformation for a greener Vietnam, organized by Dau Tu newspaper on November 12 in Hanoi.

Combining green transformation with digital transformation

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Le Viet Anh, Director of the Department of Science, Education, Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Planning and Investment, said that green transformation and digital transformation are urgent requirements. Green transformation has become the goal of many countries in the world, including Vietnam, in recent years.

Accordingly, Vietnam has implemented many important strategies such as the National Strategy on Green Growth for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, and the National Strategy on Climate Change for the period to 2050.

Mr. Anh said: In recent years, the issue of green transformation has been integrated and implemented by the Government through strategies, planning, plans, programs, and projects of the country, industry, sector, and locality, and has initially achieved certain results. As for digital transformation, although it came later, in recent years, especially under the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become the main trend in the development process of many countries.

"Developing the digital economy will be the path to create important breakthroughs for Vietnam to achieve the goal of becoming a modern industrialized country, while helping to realize sustainable development goals by 2030," Mr. Anh emphasized.

In order to promote the green transition in production, in mid-August 2024, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 13 on the list of sectors and facilities emitting greenhouse gases that must conduct greenhouse gas inventories in 2024. The Government has increased the number of enterprises required to report emissions in 2024 to more than 2,100 enterprises.

However, many businesses are not interested in green transformation and digital transformation because the initial investment for dual transformation is very large.

The dual transformation goal is a combination of green transformation and digital transformation in the production process of enterprises, aiming towards the goal of striving for zero emissions by 2050 (Net Zero).

Many experts agree that large enterprises can do it, but more than 90% of small and medium-sized enterprises with thin resources have financial difficulties when implementing dual transformation.

Circular production to achieve Net Zero

The dual transformation process has been carried out by many large enterprises in recent years and has had initial results.

Ms. Tran Ngoc Anh, senior director of external affairs at Heineken Vietnam, said that the beer company has come very close to achieving its Net Zero goal through initiatives to conserve water resources, use renewable energy, and produce in a circular manner.

Heineken Vietnam currently has 5 breweries with nearly 3,000 employees, producing and distributing many brands, including products created by Vietnamese brewing experts specifically for Vietnamese people.

According to Ms. Anh, to realize the goal of zero environmental impact, Heineken Vietnam is implementing water conservation initiatives, while making efforts to promote the transition to renewable energy and maximize the circular economy to contribute to the government's Net Zero target.

Specifically, Heineken Vietnam is converting to renewable energy and maximizing the application of the circular economic model.

To promote this roadmap, the company has applied the 4Rs strategy with 4 pillars: Reducing energy consumption with advanced equipment and optimizing processes, replacing fossil energy with renewable energy, eliminating residual emissions with carbon offset projects, reporting and assessing impacts throughout the process.

By promoting the energy transition in production, Heineken Vietnam has achieved 99% renewable energy for production in 2023, while maintaining zero landfill waste at all factories from 2021.

All by-products and waste in Heineken Vietnam's production are recycled, reused or turned into valuable products to be included in other value chains, Ms. Anh added.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/chuyen-doi-xanh-doanh-nghiep-lon-lam-duoc-doanh-nghiep-nho-lo-chi-phi-qua-lon-20241112160132321.htm