HEINEKEN Vietnam supports clean water supply in Lai Chau province

The clean water station's ground-breaking ceremony in Khoen On commune by HEINEKEN Vietnam

This is the 24^th water supply project across the country that HEINEKEN Vietnam has sponsored to support communities in need of clean water with a value of VND300 million ($13 million).

Khoen On commune is home to many ethnic minority groups. The people living here are currently using untreated water from nearby rivers or streams. These sources cannot always meet the daily needs of people, especially during the dry season.

The water station sponsored by HEINEKEN Vietnam will provide the villagers of Khoen On commune with five wells where they can access water.

“This is a very important project for the community in Khoen On commune, Than Uyen district as it helps meet the urgent need for regular access to clean water. We welcome and highly appreciate HEINEKEN Vietnam’s efforts to proactively support the improvement of local infrastructure and hope that more water stations will come to people in remote areas of Lai Chau province as well as across Vietnam,” said Vuong The Man, Vice Chairman of Than Uyen District People’s Committee.

Lo Van Chai, a resident from Khoen On commune, said, “We have to travel very far to get water every day. It is even tougher during the dry season because we do not even know if there will be enough water when we get there. We are not certain about the quality but it is our only option.”

“We are very happy about HEINEKEN Vietnam sponsoring this water station. We have been eagerly waiting for this project to be completed so that we can easily access clean water,” he added.

Within the framework of HEINEKEN Vietnam’s “1 minute less for 1 million smiles” programme that first started in 2012, this programme provides access to clean water for communities in need as well as aims to raise public awareness on saving and protecting water resources.

In the near future, HEINEKEN Vietnam will also carry out a series of activities in the form of training and coaching sessions to farmers and residents of remote and mountainous areas on saving water, the proper use of fertilisers, and the disposal and treatment of waste in daily agricultural production for communities.

“At HEINEKEN Vietnam, water is an essential resource and we believe everyone should have reliable access to clean and safe water,” said Matt Wilson, Corporate Affairs director of HEINEKEN Vietnam. “Growing with Communities and Protecting Water Resources are two of six focus areas where HEINEKEN Vietnam wants to make a difference in environmental and social issues. We strive to create positive impacts for Brewing a Better Vietnam.”

For many years, HEINEKEN Vietnam, the Most Sustainable Company in Vietnam for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) in the Manufacturing category, has been a pioneer in embedding sustainability in its business strategy.

Its sustainability agenda, “Brewing a Better Vietnam”, aims to create sustainable values for "People, Planet and Prosperity". In addition to providing support to communities and hosting water resource protection activities, HEINEKEN Vietnam has also been applying the circular economy model into its operations to reuse or recycle almost 99 per cent of its waste or by-products.

In addition, HEINEKEN Vietnam pioneered an ongoing Tiger cap programme since 2018 that recycles bottle caps into raw materials to build new bridges. This programme encourages recycling and reducing waste as well as provides huge benefits to the community.