Having achieved numerous goals in nurturing sustainable growth, an important part of which is to keep the environment clean, green and beautiful, the leading beverage maker has recently strived further for a more ambitious target: recycling all wastes from its production.

Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage has lately joined PRO Vietnam, a coalition of nine leading companies from the consumer goods and packaging industry, to pursue the circular economy, specifically to make recycling of packaging more accessible and sustainable. PRO Vietnam marks the first time that competing businesses are collaborating to collectively work on improving the environment of Vietnam.

As one of the leading brands in Vietnam, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam understands that when recycling is not done properly, the packaging becomes a wasted resource that the planet cannot sustain.

PRO Vietnam works towards its ambition through key activities including educating consumers on recycling awareness and segregation; strengthening the existing packaging collection ecosystem; and supporting recycling programs of processors and recyclers.

In addition, the coalition will also work with the government in the “Recycle” aspect of the 3R rule (Reduce – Reuse – Recycle) and through its voluntary, public-private partnership aims to improve livelihood conditions and create jobs for individuals and businesses working on post-consumer packaging. PRO Vietnam will also coordinate with research centers of universities to find out the most suitable solutions for the environment of Vietnam.

Pham Phu Ngoc Trai, who serves as chairman of PRO Vietnam, said: “We believe that to sustain business growth we have to be committed to the society and the environment, contributing towards a clean, green and beautiful Vietnam.”

The founding members of PRO Vietnam unite towards a mission: “By 2030, all packaging material put into the market by its members shall be collected for recycling.”   

Such a goal is highly ambitious, but Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, given its achievements in the past years, has strong confidence to realize the target.

In fact, the company always finds innovative ways to minimize its impact on the environment to the local communities where it operates as well as implementing many environment protection projects with the community.

Between 2006 and 2018, it is reported the company managed to reduce 70% of the water use, 42% of energy and 34% of wastes per unit of product. Owing to such efforts, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam has for three consecutive years until 2018 been rated among the top three most sustainable companies as honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with some central ministries and agencies.

While environmental protection is widely considered a substantial contribution to the society, the beverage maker has also engaged in numerous CSR activities to directly benefit the community, especially the poor.

CSR is a part of the company’s business strategy to sustain business growth. At Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage, CSR is not only a philanthropic responsibility, it also consists of an economic responsibility to be profitable, a legal responsibility to obey the law and regulations, an ethical responsibility to do what is right, and finally a responsibility to be fair, according to the company.

To support Vietnamese youth, the company has been building and developing many educational programs and talent sustainability development for young generation.

Accompanied by stakeholders, the company has also conducted many programs for community healthcare, such as heart operations, eye surgery, support to build medical centers, supplying medical equipment to poor communities and patients in remote areas.

At Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, the effort to protect the environment is ceaseless and tireless, as the company embraces the corporate value of “Giving back to Society”, a mandate for a corporate citizen that has committed to being “In Vietnam – For Vietnam – With Vietnam”.