VBL released its sustainability report 2014

The report focuses on six main areas, including advocating responsible consumption, protecting water resources, reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, growing with communities, sourcing sustainably, and promoting health and safety.

Over the past few years, the company (VBL) has made remarkable progress in its sustainability work. Specifically, while advocating responsible drinking, it has collaborated with the National Traffic Safety Committee and the provincial Traffic Safety Committees to implement its “Drink Don’t Drive” communication campaign since 2008. Internally, VBL has in place the Alcohol Policy since 2003 that is cascaded down to all VBL employees within this organisation.

VBL has also protected water resources. It invests massively in production water saving technologies and state-of-the-art wastewater treatment systems. In 2014, it achieved an impressive reduction in water consumption by 5.9 per cent to 3.07 hl/hl, down from 3.27 hl/hl in 2013. At VBL, waste water is strictly treated to ensure the quality of water discharged to the water surface complies with all laws and regulations.

Additionally, over the past four years, VBL has continuously reduced CO2 emissions in its production operations, from 5.5 kilogramme/hl to 3.69 kg/hl in 2014.

Especially with its investment in biomass based energy generation, VBL plans to reduce CO2 emissions further to 2.34kg/hl in 2015. 100 per cent of its new fridges are also compliant with the HEINEKEN Green Fridge Policy.

VBL’s endeavours are also aimed at strategic community investments in priority areas of water and education. Throughout Vietnam, VBL proactively runs water programmes, the very successful “1 Minute Less for Million Smiles” programme building the awareness of saving and protecting water.

Also VBL grants “Towards Water Security” scholarships to help young environmental scientists and students to realise their water study ambitions and make effective contributions to water protection in the future in Vietnam.

In addition, VBL conducts many community support programmes such as Warm Spring, Dream Moon and blood donations, with the enthusiastic participation of our employees and business partners. These programmes support thousands of needy households, elderly and children.

Besides, 55 per cent of VBL’s suppliers have signed Heineken’s world-wide Supplier Code, and VBL is on track towards its 2015 target of 100 per cent.

VBL has also conducted yearly training and activities to place workplace safety and health as a top priority in the mindset of all employees from all functions.

“While sustainability related initiatives have been a part of VBL for some time, this year is the first time that we have published our sustainability report. Our approach is aligned with the HEINEKEN group’s strategy, ‘Brewing a Better World’, to build a sustainable business in Vietnam,” said VBL’s managing director Leo Evers. “Its aim is to create shared, long-term value for all our stakeholders and the society we are living and working in.”