From strategy to practice

Innovation and Sustainability: From Strategy to Practice

As part of the thematic discussion series of the annual Regional Conference “Gateway to ASEAN” 2024 organized by UOB Bank for the first time in Vietnam, the third discussion session with the theme “Innovation with Sustainability” attracted the attention of many domestic and foreign enterprises.

Focusing on the topic of sustainable development, leaders of leading businesses in many fields in Vietnam and the region shared practical experiences and business strategies in the context of regional economies pursuing ambitious targets on emission reduction.

Coca-Cola: Responding to Regulations and Changing Consumer Behavior

Mr. Bui Khanh Nguyen, Deputy General Director of Public Relations, Communications and Sustainable Development of Coca-Cola Vietnam, shared that during 30 years of operation in Vietnam, Coca-Cola has witnessed strong changes in government policies and market demand. The company has had to adapt to new environmental regulations, such as requirements for recycling and waste reduction.

In addition, the company also realized that consumers increasingly prioritized choosing more environmentally friendly products, and this encouraged Coca-Cola to invest heavily in sustainability initiatives. One of the highlights of Coca-Cola's strategy is investing in technology.

Mr. Nguyen said that the company is building a new factory in Long An with advanced technology to minimize environmental impact and improve production efficiency. This transformation will not only help Coca-Cola meet the demands of consumers who increasingly prioritize green products, but also support the company in maintaining the resilience of its supply chain in the context of the pandemic that has caused serious disruptions.

TTC AgriS: Cooperating with all parties to develop sustainable agriculture

Ms. Dang Huynh Uc My, Chairwoman of Thanh Thanh Cong Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company, shared that the company recently held an international partner conference in Singapore to discuss the development of clean, green and sustainable agriculture. Ms. My emphasized that over the past 55 years, the company has always focused on the goal of developing sustainable agriculture through investing in digital transformation, innovation and building a sustainable supply chain.

According to Ms. My, TTC is committed to supporting partners and the farming community in applying sustainable agricultural methods. The company recognizes that sustainable development requires support and resonance from partners. She emphasized that close cooperation with parties in the ecosystem is the key to achieving common success.

Ms. My also shared about the role of financial partners through the example of her business receiving a recent UOB Green Trade grant for sustainable coconut production, contributing to actively supporting coconut farmers in the business’s supply chain ecosystem.

DHL Express: Switching to clean energy to reduce emissions

Mr. Bernardo Bautista, General Director and Country Manager of DHL Express Vietnam, informed about DHL's efforts in using clean energy and reducing emissions. Mr. Bautista said that more than 90% of emissions from DHL Express's operations are from air transport and the company is making efforts to switch to using sustainable energy instead of using gasoline.

Mr. Bautista explained that switching to clean energy may be more expensive, but the company is willing to invest in these solutions to protect the planet. By 2023, DHL Express will be the largest user of sustainable energy in air freight, with approximately 3% of DHL Express’ air freight fuel being sustainable.

Mr. Bernardo Bautista, General Director and Country Director of DHL Express Vietnam shared at the discussion session

DHL has also launched programs that allow customers to contribute to the journey of reducing emissions by choosing transportation solutions that use sustainable fuel sources. DHL said that more than 3,000 customers in Vietnam have actively chosen the company's Go Green products to reduce emissions.

Schneider Electric: Technology innovation for efficient energy use

Mr. Yoon Young Kim, President of Schneider Electric, Singapore and Brunei, highlighted the important role of technology in promoting sustainability. Schneider Electric focuses on improving resource efficiency and reducing emissions through technology solutions. Mr. Kim said that the company is working with UOB to support sustainable energy and mobility projects.

Mr. Yoon Young Kim, President of Schneider Electric Singapore and Brunei, emphasized the role of technology in sustainable development.

Kim noted that while new technologies like AI are developing rapidly, they are also areas that consume a lot of energy. He cited the example of using GPT, which consumes 10 times more energy than using Google. Therefore, many solutions are needed to help data centers become more efficient. Schneider Electric has been actively applying new technology solutions to help save energy and minimize resource waste.

Speakers at the discussion session all agreed that close cooperation between public and private parties, especially financial support from financial institutions, is very important to promote the transformation of business operations towards lower emissions and more sustainability.

A representative of UOB Bank also said that with the largest Trade network in the region, the Bank is actively cooperating with parties, connecting businesses with solution providers, thereby promoting the process of revolutionizing the entire supply chain in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly direction.

Held for the first time in Vietnam, the annual regional conference “Gateway to ASEAN” 2024 attracted about 600 guests, including two main discussion sessions and three thematic discussion sessions, focusing on in-depth discussions on growth drivers in ASEAN, analyzing and sharing practical experiences on investing in ASEAN through Vietnam, supply chain management as well as aiming for green development, sustainable development through innovation. The event was initiated by UOB Bank, aiming to bring valuable information to businesses while creating opportunities to connect businesses, promote trade and investment in the region thanks to UOB’s most extensive trade network in the region.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/doi-moi-sang-tao-cung-tinh-ben-vung-tu-chien-luoc-den-thuc-tien-d225129.html