11/07/2016
Over the years, the adoption of cleaner production methods in Việt Nam has brought economic efficiency, reduced waste and saved natural resources. The government has implemented many policies to assist enterprises in applying cleaner technologies.
To further promote the use of cleaner production methods in industry to achieve the goal of sustainable development, Việt Nam must initiate measures to encourage the ministries, the branches and the localities to build and deploy models for cleaner production to change the existing pattern of production towards a more sustainable and environment-friendly business.
State policies encourage the application of cleaner production in Việt Nam
Vietnam’s National Strategy for Environmental Protection until 2020 and Vision towards 2030 was approved by the prime minister under Decision no.1216 /QD-TTg, dated 5/12/2012. It states that the promotion of environment protection must follow the ISO 14000 standard, including cleaner production, waste control, assessment of the product cycle and advanced environment management models.
Cleaner production is one of the main contents and is, therefore, given priority in industrial production.
In addition, the State also promulgated the National Strategy for Green Growth under Decision no.1393/QD-TTg, dated 25/12/2012. According to this strategy document, in the period 2011-2020, Việt Nam must reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions by 8-10%, compared with 2010, and decrease energy consumption per GDP by 1-1.5% annually.
Under the strategy of using clean technology until 2020 and vision till 2030, a target of having some 60-70% producers using energy that is capable of causing serious environment pollution, such as textile, dyeing, production of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as steel, mineral exploitation, processing and thermal power, in addition to paper, cement and sugar, has been set.
The producers have been asked to build and implement a roadmap for technology innovation towards using cleaner technology by 2030. 100% of the producers in the industry must apply technical standards and regulations on clean technology.
A comprehensive and meaningful policy aims to stimulate the use of cleaner production measures in industrial production, mentioned under decision no.432/QD_TTg, dated 12/4/2012, on the sustainable development strategy for 2011-2020 that was approved by the prime minister. It states that promoting the widespread use of cleaner production methods to improve the efficient use of natural resources, raw materials, energy and water, as well as to reduce emissions, limit pollution, protect environment quality, human health and ensure sustainable development, is essential.
Over the years, some industrial production facilities have applied cleaner production measures. The facilities have already approached various funds to get loans, such as the Environmental Protection Fund, the Support Fund for Small and Medium Enterprises and the Development Fund for Science and Technology, and have enjoyed incentives. The money in these funds is mainly contributed by the State budget. Many of these funds, such as the Environment Protection Fund, regularly collect money through tax and fee collections. This fund’s operational principle is to preserve capital, making it suitable for cleaner production projects.
Thanks to legal documents and strategies on cleaner production by 2020 and the vision towards 2030, the application of cleaner production methods will continue to be recommended and given priority in Vietnam’s industrial development roadmap.
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Applion of cleaner production helps businesses save energy and protect the environment |
Some models and typical enterprises have applied cleaner production methods successfully
Thai Nguyen Paper JSC is an example of an enterprise that has applied cleaner production methods efficiently to manufacture pulp and paper. The company produces votive paper, which is exported to Taiwan, using raw materials, mainly wood and bamboo, with an annual capacity of 6,500 tonnes per year.
The company, which has 200 employees, has carried out a number of measures to ensure cleaner production, including technology renovation, replacement of high-quality raw material, application of advanced technologies and the recirculation and reuse of waste water.
After adopting these innovative methods, the company gained several economic benefits. The company invested VND 2.5 billion and earned VND 1.5 billion in revenue in 2014. With the use of cleaner production processes, the company minimised greenhouse gas emissions amounting to 125 tonnes of CO2 per year, reduced 114,400 cu.m. of wastewater per year and decreased dust emissions amounting to 5.19 tonnes per year.
Saigon Dong Xuan Beer JSC is an example from the brewery industry. The plant has a designed capacity for the annual production of 30 million litres of beer, 1.5 million litres of ethanol and three million bottles of wine. The company employs 310 people. By adopting measures to improve production efficiency, the company has used materials, water and energy more efficiently and reduced the cost of processing solid waste, waste water and gas emissions. The company has also improved its environment and labour safety. As a result of these measures, the company, which had invested VND 1.9 billion, earned a profit of VND 2.3 billion in 2015. Cleaner production processes also helped reduce water consumption and waste water by 558,900 cu.m. per year, greenhouse gas emissions amounting to 238 tonnes of CO2 per year and 75 tonnes of dust emissions per year.
Nam Hung Mannufacturing and Trading Co. Ltd, from the textile sector, specialises in producing bleached, dyed and cotton fabric, has an annual production capacity of 1.1 million metres of fabric a year and employs 20 people. The adoption of cleaner production methods benefitted the company economically. The company invested VND 32.3 million and earned a profit of VBD 69.4 million in 2015. Greenhouse gas emissions amounting to 136.2 tonnes of CO2 per year were reduced by minimising power consumption and cutting down on the use of firewood. Working conditions have also improved.
Proposed solutions for the adoption of cleaner production methods
The assessment and the review of the cleaner production project aims to find shortcomings in the scheme’s implementation and to adjust financial resources in a timely manner.
There is a need to assess the current incentives and to work out specific solutions to promote cleaner production, including efficient solutions to assist businesses in transferring technology, especially for technology renovation in industrial production, pollution reduction technology and the efficient utilization of raw materials for cleaner production projects. A review of the relevant documents to extend the scheme to 2030 is also required.
Furthermore, the advisory support from the State for those who are using cleaner production must be strengthened. The evaluation and the review of industry promotion policies is especially needed. Attention should be paid to industry promotion centres, particularly those which have assisted industrial businesses in implementing cleaner production solutions.
There is also a need to review the relevant documents of those enterprises that have adopted cleaner production methods, especially documents related to loan preferential, tax, fee, land lease and fee, with a view to encouraging enterprises that are actively engaging in the process.
The state should assist enterprises in training technicians and raising awareness on cleaner production. Businesses that have implemented cleaner production processes can advise others and spread the message.
It is necessary to strongly boost international cooperation, not only for traditional media partners, including UNIDO and UNDP, but also to expand to new financial institutions and other international organizations.
MSc. Phùng Thị Quỳnh Trang
Economics and Trade Technical College
