Hanoi, July 5, 2025 – The Viet Nam Forestry Administration - Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MoAE), in partnership with Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, today officially kicked off the 2025 activities under the program “Water of Life” and launched the “Nature Expedition with Mizuiku” initiative - an educational model designed to raise awareness about the importance of forests and water resources, deployed at National Parks across the country.

The event was attended by leaders from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, leaders from Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, forestry institutes, the Association of National Parks and Nature Reserves, National parks including Tam Dao, Xuan Lien, and Cat Tien and board of directors of Vietnam Forestry University.

This marked a significant milestone in the partnership between Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam and the Viet Nam Forestry Administration (MoAE), building on the success achieved since 2024. As the first company to establish a public–private partnership in sustainable forest development, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam continues to demonstrate its pioneering role in collaborating the Vietnamese Government’s efforts toward water replenishment, carbon offset, and addressing climate change.

As a company sustained by the gift of water, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam recognizes the importance of water and has been exploring ways to address Vietnam’s water challenges. Since 2021, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam has initiated reforestation activities at watershed areas and scaled up nationwide in 2024 through the public-private partnership with MoAE under “Water of Life” program aiming at multiple purposes including water replenishment, carbon offset and improved livelihoods for local communities.

Within one year of implementation, “Water of Life” program has achieved significant results, planted 35 hectares of upstream forests in Bac Kan, Nghe An, and Ca Mau, conducted technical training for over 100 forest owners and farmers and enriching lives for thousands of people in sourround communities. In 2025, the program will expand with a target of planting 60 hectares of upstream forests across Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, Binh Phuoc, and Long An. These priority areas have been strategically selected for their critical environmental functions, including improving water retention, mitigating salinity intrusion, and strengthening water security for surrounding communities.

The program is designed to achieve multiple purposes, including replenishing water, absorbing carbon, and enhancing the livelihoods and enriching life of local communities, with the vision that by 2050, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam will restore and replenish more water back into nature than it uses in all its production processes in the country.

The model places strong emphasis on engaging local communities and forest owners through technical training on afforestation and intercropping, therefore, enabling local people to gain understanding the value of forests, while improving their livelihoods sustainably.

Beyond afforestation, recognizing the importance of linking water and natural resource conservation with education, in 2025, the Water of Life program launches the “Nature Expedition with Mizuiku” initiative – Vietnam’s first nature-based environmental education model implemented through a public–private partnership between Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam and the Viet Nam Forestry Administration (MoAE). The initiative combines hands-on forest experiences with educational activities on water resources, forest ecosystems, and sustainable development, targeting pupils and children. It aims to expand access to experiential learning nationwide, fostering awareness of forest conservation, and nurturing a sense of environmental love and responsibility among youth. The model will be piloted in three national parks in 2025, with plans for nationwide expansion in the coming years.

“Guided by the core value of ‘Growing for Good,’ Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam remains strongly committed to sustainability alongside with business growth,” said Mr. Ashish Joshi, CEO and General Director of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam. “We are honored to be a trusted partner of the Vietnamese Government in delivering impactful environmental and social programs. The program ‘Water of Life’ and the initiative ‘Nature expedition with Mizuiku’ reflect Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam’s ongoing commitment to aligning environmental and social impact aligning with national sustainability goals. As one of the first companies to establish a public–private partnership with the Viet Nam Forestry Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in sustainable forest development, we hope to inspire broader collaboration and the creation of effective, scalable models for protecting forests and natural resources.”

Mr. Tran Quang Bao, Director of the Viet Nam Forestry Administration, recognized the contributions and pioneering role of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam: “The active and proactive engagement of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam not only reflects the company’s strong sense of social responsibility but also underscores the effectiveness of the public–private partnership model in agriculture and environmental protection. This approach aligns closely with the Government’s current priority to promote a green and circular economy.”