Applying many green transformation initiatives

The 3rd Vietnam Circular Economy Forum (2024) was chaired by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and held on December 10 in Hanoi with the theme "Promoting the circular economy in Vietnam - From planning to action".

Attending the forum, Mr. Lam Du An - Deputy General Director in charge of production at Sabeco shared many green energy conversion initiatives at the enterprise in implementing circular economy and reducing carbon emissions.

Towards a circular economy, Sabeco is focusing on three key areas in the beer industry: sustainable packaging management; water resource management; efficient use of energy, waste and substances that impact the environment.

Specifically, Sabeco is operating a model of 100% reusable and recyclable packaging (including glass bottles, plastic crates, aluminum cans, and paper boxes), aiming for 100% biodegradable packaging by 2040.

In particular, since 2019, by making improvements in product packaging design, the company has reduced packaging weight, significantly contributing to cost reduction and material reduction.

picture 1.jpg
Mr. Lam Du An - Deputy General Director in charge of production of Sabeco at the event. Photo: Sabeco

In compliance with the Environmental Protection Law on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Sabeco has partnered with Pro Vietnam with a commitment to actively launch sustainable and effective initiatives in packaging management and recycling. This year, Sabeco's goal is to reduce the weight of aluminum cans by 22% and carton packaging by 20%, aiming for a more sustainable packaging solution that brings long-term benefits to both the environment and the community.

To manage water resources, Sabeco has made continuous improvements in production and invested in modern technological equipment at 26 factories across the country. These actions have helped the company significantly reduce water usage, recover and reuse wastewater in production processes.

In 2024, Sabeco will reduce its water consumption to 2.86 liters per liter of beer, compared to 3 liters per liter in 2022 and 7 liters per liter in 2019, and is aiming for 1.5 liters per liter in the next 2 years. Efforts in water resource management have helped the company reduce its water consumption in production by 65% ​​over the past 5 years.

In addition, to implement green transformation in energy management, Sabeco has invested in and implemented more than 50 solutions and continuous improvement initiatives. In 2024, the company reduced 46% of electricity usage.

picture 2.jpg
Sabeco has recycled beer bottles to comply with EPR regulations. Photo: Sabeco

Sabeco also invests and cooperates in implementing projects using renewable energy and solar power systems for production facilities. Currently, 12 out of 26 factories have installed solar power, meeting about 23% of the electricity consumption of the entire system. The company is continuing to expand the installation to the entire roof area, estimated to provide 37% of electricity consumption; aiming to use over 50% renewable energy by 2030.

Persistently develop sustainably

Sharing at the forum, Mr. Lam Du An affirmed: “Applying the principles of the circular economy offers a promising solution to minimize waste, optimize resources and reduce environmental impact, helping us spread sustainable development in the beer industry and the community”.

In fact, sustainable development has always been the goal that Sabeco persistently pursues and strives to achieve in its production activities. Sabeco is committed to joining hands to promote the socio-economic development of Vietnam by bringing positive impacts to the country while creating beneficial values ​​for the company and its partners. To fulfill these commitments, Sabeco constantly applies the world's leading superior solutions in its production and business activities, including initiatives that comply with ESG principles (Environment, Society and Governance).

picture 3.jpg
Many Sabeco breweries have installed rooftop solar power systems, helping to save electricity and reduce CO2 emissions. Photo: Sabeco

In addition to actively participating in responding to climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on finding solutions and initiatives to minimize environmental impacts, Sabeco also focuses on strengthening corporate governance, maintaining an effective management system, improving employee capacity; actively implementing social responsibility with many community projects such as "Lighting up the countryside", "Promoting Sports"; "Sabeco Sports Hub - Connecting Vietnamese spirit"...

Sabeco's efforts have been recognized with many prestigious awards: Outstanding Enterprise for Employees 2023; Top 100 Sustainable Development Enterprises in 2023 & 2024; 7 times in Forbes' list of Top 50 Best Listed Companies in Vietnam...

Sabeco is still steadfast on the journey of innovation, strengthening cooperation with partners and the community to move towards a sustainable future for all, as affirmed by the business representative: "Together, we can build a circular economy, where waste is minimized, resources are preserved and environmental impact is reduced, ensuring a bright future for Vietnam".

Ngoc Han