Ho Chi Minh City, June 16, 2020 - Today, HEINEKEN Vietnam announced its sixth annual Sustainability Report, outlining its key sustainability achievements in 2019 and its vision for 2025.

“Sustainability has always been at the forefront of our business on a Global level as well as in Vietnam. Especially during times of uncertainty, sustainability is a guiding compass to help us overcome challenges and stay true to our values for long-term success,” said Mr. Alexander Koch –Managing Director of HEINEKEN Vietnam – “We always strive to do better, that’s why every year we conduct studies and gather feedback from our stakeholders to better understand where we need to improve. This Sustainability Report not only measures our 2019 progress but also reflects how we have adjusted our priorities and approach to ensure that we remain on the right track to create sustainable value for Vietnam long-term.”

Mr. Alexander Koch –Managing Director of HEINEKEN Vietnam presenting at the meeting

Despite the serious impact of COVID-19 in 2020, HEINEKEN Vietnam believes that climate change remains the greatest threat facing Vietnam in the foreseeable future. Responding to climate change requires a clear and long-term roadmap that is demanding yet realistic. Accordingly, HEINEKEN Vietnam has set out ambitious 2025 targets from an environmental perspective:

• 100% Renewable Energy: Using 100% renewable thermal and electrical energy at all six HEINEKEN breweries across Vietnam (currently five out of six source all thermal energy from renewable sources).
• 100% Water Balanced: HEINEKEN Vietnam will replenish every single drop of water that goes into its products with water for the environment.
• ZERO Waste to Landfill: HEINEKEN Vietnam aims to reuse or recycle 100% of its waste or by-products (currently at 99% already), sending zero waste to landfill.

Representatives from Heineken Vietnam: Mr. Alexander Koch –Managing Director (left) and Mr. Matt Wilson - Corporate Affairs Director (right)

In furtherance of these ambitious targets and HEINEKEN Vietnam’s overall ambition to create sustainable value for the local community, environment and economy, HEINEKEN Vietnam made the following progress in 2019:

• Sustaining Prosperity for a Better Vietnam: In 2019, HEINEKEN Vietnam supported 212,000 jobs (directly and indirectly) and contributed 0.95% of Vietnam’s total GDP, including VND5.7 trillion spent on local businesses by sourcing almost all of its packaging materials from local suppliers. HEINEKEN Vietnam also embarked on a digital transformation journey by leveraging data from different sources in order to make more informed decisions to respond to consumers’ fast changing behaviors and deliver better value to its customers. To respond to changing consumer tastes, HEINEKEN diversified its portfolio with the launch of HEINEKEN Silver and prepared for the launch of Heineken 0.0 and the new brand Bia Viet in early 2020.
• Empowering People for a Better Vietnam: In 2019, HEINEKEN Vietnam continued to invest vigorously in people development, including providing around 125,000 training hours. Beyond its own workforce, HEINEKEN Vietnam remains committed to advocating responsible consumption and addressing drink driving in Vietnam. As part of its long term, strategic partnership with the National Traffic Safety Committee, HEINEKEN Vietnam stepped up its “When You Drive, Never Drink” campaign in 2019 and invested a total of VND14 billion into responsible consumption initiatives, reaching over fifty-six million people online and offline.

Earlier this year, to support COVID-19 relief efforts, HEINEKEN operating companies around the world and the Heineken family have come together to donate 30 million Euros to COVID-19 relief efforts, including VND10 billion by HEINEKEN Vietnam (under Bia Viet brand), to support relief efforts in Vietnam.

• Sustaining the Planet for a Better Vietnam: In 2019, HEINEKEN Vietnam continued to embed a circular economy model into its operations. Five out of six breweries already brew with 100% renewable thermal energy with the new Vung Tau brewery to be the first carbon neutral brewery in Asia. Since 1993, HEINEKEN Vietnam has more than doubled its water efficiency and still ranks #1 for water efficiency among all HEINEKEN operating companies in the Asia Pacific region. HEINEKEN Vietnam treats 100% of its wastewater before safely returning it back to the environment. The “1 Minute Less for Million Smiles” program – HEINEKEN Vietnam’s initiative to improve access to safe water for communities that are vulnerable to climate change – ended 2019 with a total of 25 water stations, benefiting approximately 16,000 households in need. HEINEKEN Vietnam creates virtually zero waste to landfill as it reuses or recycles around 99% of its waste or by-products.

Heineken's Ambitious Vision for 2050

As a result of these achievements, in 2019 HEINEKEN Vietnam continued to be ranked in the top three most sustainable companies in Vietnam for the fourth consecutive year by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (2016: 3rd; 2017: 1st; 2018: 1st; 2019: 3rd). 

There is much more to be done on the journey towards a sustainable future. HEINEKEN Vietnam believes that together, by actively addressing the issues of today and tomorrow, we can brew a better Vietnam. HEINEKEN Vietnam will continue to advocate for a more sustainable culture by organizing social activities inspiring people to choose green in their daily life on its official Facebook fanpage at https://www.facebook.com/HEINEKENVietnam/.