Choosing Green means committing to sustainable operations, an approach which Heineken has taken on and also inspired others to follow for over 27 years in Vietnam.

Heineken Vietnam today launched its 2017 Sustainability Report highlighting its impressive sustainability accomplishments in 2017. This is the fourth consecutive year that the company has published a GRI accredited Sustainability Report for Vietnam.

Last year Heineken Vietnam was recognized as the Most Sustainable Manufacturing Company in Vietnam by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in the annual CSI 100 awards.

Leo Evers, managing director of Heineken Vietnam, said at the launch event that for Heineken Vietnam, sustainability is its choice. “We choose Green by taking care of our People and the Planet to sustain Prosperity for a better Vietnam,” Evers noted.

“With a corporate strategy entrenched in the triple bottom line approach, Heineken Vietnam has continued to integrate sustainability into our core business to set new benchmarks in sustainable development through continuous improvements, rigorous assessment and communication of our progress.

“Going forward, we believe that there is so much more to be done. We will continue to work with our stakeholders to implement suitable strategies, so that together we can brew an even better Vietnam.”

Heineken Vietnam’s sustainability strategy continues to focus on six key areas where the company believes it can have the greatest impact on Vietnam: advocating responsible consumption; promoting health and safety; protecting water resources; reducing CO2 emissions; growing with communities; and sourcing sustainably.

In 2017, the firm invested VND16 billion in responsible consumption initiatives, reaching ten million Heineken and Tiger fans through brand responsible consumption campaigns. Within the framework of the When You Drive Never Drink campaign, the company continued its long-term partnership with the National Traffic Safety Committee to positively engage consumers to not drink and drive and offer practical solutions – providing 130,000 taxi vouchers.

In addition, the company provided over 2,600 training hours for employees and over 6,000 hours for its distributors and sub-distributors on road safety and health. Heineken Vietnam employees also spent over 2,000 volunteer hours for charity and advocacy initiatives, and the company invested a further VND7.8 billion in direct community support initiatives.

One hundred percent of Heineken Vietnam’s wastewater was treated so that it could be safely reused for other purposes such as landscaping. The firm also played a leading role in applying circular economy into its operations.

The company sourced around 54,000 tons of rice husk and woodchips from farmers to generate thermal energy. This initiative provided substantial income for Vietnamese farmers as well as supported the development of biomass energy industry in Vietnam.