AEON Vietnam strives to promote green consumption

At a talk show on the dual transformation hosted by VIR on August 12, Nguyen Bang Lang, Corporate Sustainability and External Relations manager of AEON, shared her views on AEON’s experience in driving digital transformation in conjunction with green transformation towards sustainable development.

Nguyen Bang Lang, Corporate Sustainability and External Relations manager of AEON

“To promote green consumption behaviour among customers, AEON has implemented a sustainable development strategy through activities and programmes designed to reduce the use of plastic bags and single-use plastic products,” said Lang. This strategy includes two main aspects, changes in operations and changes in consumer behaviour towards green and modern consumption, she added.

Since 2020, AEON has undertaken significant operational changes by discontinuing single-use plastic products and substituting them with eco-friendly alternatives, including biodegradable bags, paper straws, and sugarcane trays. Additionally, at its ready-to-eat food counters, the company has replaced plastic food containers with sustainable materials such as sugarcane bowls and trays.

In addition, it has transitioned customer membership cards from hard plastic cards to mobile app accounts. Similarly, with the rewards points programme, instead of issuing paper vouchers and shopping tickets, shoppers now accumulate points and redeem vouchers through the mobile app.

“In terms of changing consumer behaviour, AEON prioritises creating the greatest convenience for customers,” Lang shared.

As part of its green transformation efforts, AEON has launched the 'Rent a Bag' programme, offering a refundable rental service for eco-friendly bags. “Our survey of approximately 300,000-400,000 customers across six malls nationwide found that the hesitation to use reusable bags was due to a lack of habit in bringing their own,” Lang cited.

In response, AEON has introduced the bag rental initiative to encourage sustainable consumption. Customers who forget to bring their own reusable bags can rent one at the checkout counter. They may return the bag on their next visit and receive a full refund.

For digital transformation, AEON has implemented a variety of self-order and cashless payment counters. These counters help speed up the payment process and personalise orders according to individual preferences.

The dual transformations have enabled the company to enhance operational efficiency, streamline processes, lower production costs, and elevate the customer experience. Furthermore, these initiatives contribute to its reputation as a responsible corporate citizen, bolster its competitive advantage, and reinforce trust and loyalty among customers who prioritise sustainability.

For customers, these changes enhanced convenience and time savings during their shopping experience. Additionally, by engaging with green services and products at AEON, customers actively contribute to sustainable development and environmental protection through their purchases.

"AEON Vietnam, together with customers and stakeholders, aims to make every transaction worth every penny," said Lang.

Promoting green innovation in SMEs Green innovation in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is being actively promoted, but there remain issues that require thorough research to identify suitable solutions moving forward, according to a recent conference.

AEON committed to more sustainable consumption The rental of shopping bags and utilising supporting partners to participate in green transformation are just some of AEON Vietnam’s initiatives to promote sustainable consumption. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hue, corporate communications and external affairs general manager of AEON Vietnam, discussed the company’s green journey with VIR’s Oanh Do.