In the context of increasing globalization and climate change, green transformation is not only an option but an inevitable path toward sustainable development.

Vietnamese enterprises are facing pressure to adapt more quickly to new standards on the environment, energy and social responsibility. With technological changes, enterprises can access green production solutions more quickly and connect more effectively with technology providers and specialized organizations.

Standards for sustainable development

According to experts, applying green production standards has now become an inevitable issue for enterprises. At the conference on green transformation in industrial production amid new challenges, held in Ho Chi Minh City on May 12, Pham Hoai Trung, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Green Transformation Association, said pressure to reduce emissions and increase transparency in production activities is growing. Standards such as ESG — environmental, social and governance — are not only risk management tools, but also a “multi-standard system” supporting enterprises in moving toward sustainable development.

However, one of the major current difficulties is that Vietnam still lacks a unified ESG assessment framework suited to the practical conditions of domestic enterprises. Although general criteria for green production have been set, there remains a lack of tools and guidance for specific sectors and fields. To develop an appropriate set of criteria, it is necessary to consider the characteristics of each industry and the level of environmental impact in each sector. Once there is a transparent assessment system, enterprises with high ESG scores will have a clear advantage in accessing international partners, participating in sustainable supply chains and enhancing their reputation in the market.

Enterprises also face difficulties in accessing capital for green transformation in production. Green credit remains limited and most funding has so far focused mainly on renewable energy. Meanwhile, green transformation projects by manufacturing enterprises still lack suitable lending mechanisms. This has made it difficult for many enterprises to access capital for investment in green technologies and production processes.

Nguyen Dinh Quyen, founder of ESG Education & Business and ESG Investment Fund, said enterprises that begin green transformation earlier will gain greater advantages. Many large corporations have already demonstrated their long-term sustainable development goals by committing to net-zero emissions by 2050 or carbon neutrality by 2040. To fulfill these commitments, enterprises must build specific roadmaps and clearly define each stage of emission reduction. First, they need to build a “current-state picture,” identifying where they stand in terms of emissions and the extent to which they meet ESG standards. Once baseline data is available, enterprises can then develop emission reduction strategies and identify the gap between their current status and long-term goals.

 

Dong Nai aims that by 2030, at least 10% of enterprises in industrial parks will apply solutions for efficient resource use and cleaner production, achieving savings in raw materials, materials, water, energy, chemicals, waste and scrap, while reducing environmental emissions.

 

Enterprises make efforts

Green transformation is not only a challenge but also an opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to enhance competitiveness, expand markets and develop sustainably.

Tuong Lai Co., Ltd. in Long Thanh Ward is applying productivity improvement tools and developing a smart factory. The enterprise has also established a research and innovation department to affirm its position in the supporting industry manufacturing sector. According to Truong Quoc Cuong, Director of the company, the enterprise has implemented a comprehensive productivity and quality improvement project with the support of the Vietnam Productivity Institute. With modern management tools, the company has initially established a lean, transparent and efficient operating foundation. This has helped increase labor productivity by 20%, raise overall equipment effectiveness from 79% to 87%, achieve a 98% production order completion rate, and ensure that 100% of orders are delivered on time. From there, the company is moving strongly into the stage of applying digital technology to production planning and control.

Similarly, Dong Nai Rubber Corporation Limited has also identified its key strategy as enhancing product value rather than focusing only on output. The enterprise aims to produce green, clean rubber products with high scientific content and value, as well as semi-processed materials to replace fossil-based materials such as silicone and synthetic rubber. Therefore, the corporation’s processing plants are continuing to improve technologies to save energy, reduce emissions and protect workers’ health. According to Do Minh Tuan, General Director of Dong Nai Rubber Corporation, promoting technology application and green production is also intended to prepare for broader application across various fields of the enterprise. The corporation is also the first unit in Vietnam’s rubber industry to build a raw material traceability system, helping increase the reputation and competitiveness of its products in international markets.

Friendly Plastics Co., Ltd. in Ho Nai Industrial Park has also achieved partial autonomy in its production process by reusing recycled materials. Its ability to master multiple stages — from formula research, material synthesis and mold design to automated production — helps the enterprise maintain stable quality for recycled materials, a factor often considered an obstacle in competition, especially in demanding markets such as the United States and Europe.

Vương Thế

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/