21/12/2017
With a business strategy targeting sustainable development and harmony between nature and human life, Suntory PepsiCo Viet Nam Factory in Bac Ninh Province (Suntory Pepsico Bac Ninh) has concentrated its investment on environmental protection and energy saving. The company has also implemented many projects that benefit the local community to create a clean environment for the Vietnamese people. The Vietnam Environment Administration Magazine (VEM) has talked to Ms Pham Minh Kim, Director of Suntory PepsiCo Việt Nam Bac Ninh, to understand the firm’s work on environmental protection.
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Phạm Minh Kim, Director of Suntory PepsiCo Bac Ninh |
Suntory PepsiCo Việt Nam is considered to be among foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises that have strictly complied with Vietnam’s legal system on environmental protection. How are environmental regulations carried out in the scope of the factory and of the company?
Suntory PepsiCo Việt Nam Beverage Co Ltd (SPVB) and Suntory PepsiCo Bac Ninh always gives priority to environmental protection, considering it was one of the key activities that helped the company develop in a sustainable way. The factory has strictly carried out its environmental impact assessment (EIA), assuring its operation will have no negative effects on the environment. The factory has implemented the EIA, which was approved by authorities. All the machinery, equipment and materials are evaluated and tested for their effects on the environment, and based on the evaluation, the appropriate machinery, materials and production methods that are friendliest to the environment and compliant with Vietnam’s legal system would be selected. Besides, the factory also looks for opportunities and solutions to improve its environmental impact management system. The factory also launches awards to encourage its business units to come up with ideas about environmental protection, which would help the factory improve its operation efficiency and minimise impacts on the environment. The factory also updates its legal documents on environmental protection via the portals of the National Assembly, the Government and other sources. The up-to-date legal documents have helped avoid violations and the factory has been commended by the Government and its agencies for its efforts to protect the environment.
In addition, the factory also raises the awareness of employees and contractors about environmental protection regulations and puts strict, heavy sanctions on individuals and organisations that fail to comply with the environmental protection law. To raise the awareness of environmental protections and respond to events, such as the International Water Day (March 22) and the International Environment Day (June 5), SPVB and Suntory PepsiCo Bac Ninh organize practical activities, such as improving the facility and the sanitation system in primary schools, planting trees and cleaning roads. In Bac Ninh, Suntory PepsiCo Bac Ninh organized “Green Environment Day,” with participation from employees and workers in the factory.
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| Modern and synchronized production line at Suntory PepsiCo Bac Ninh |
The production of beverage will generate negative impacts on the environment if the producer has no solutions for it. What has the factory done to resolve its environmental issues?
To achieve a harmonious relationship with the nature, environment and people, SPVB always needs ideas to minimise its production impacts on the environment and thoroughly applies the most modern waste treatment process to protect the local environment. As a sub-unit of SPVB, Suntory PepsiCo Bac Ninh has been applying environment-friendly production methods to increase its energy use efficiency and save input materials. More specifically, the factory has developed a waste management system and has instructed all employees, workers and contractors to be aware of the system and strictly follow the waste treatment procedure. The factory has developed a procedure to select contractors, who are able to collect, transfer and process waste. 100% of waste is classified at-source in accordance with regulations. All employees and workers of the factory are trained on waste classification and disposal. The factory has been equipped with standardised garbage cans and a waste storage facility that is used to temporarily store waste before it is handed to contractors. The waste management system is evaluated and approved by the Bac Ninh Department of Natural Resources and Environment. It is standardised to meet requirements of the EIA and is completed before being used.
Also, the factory has built a waste water treatment system, with a capacity of 2,500m3/day-night, which meets the column A of the standard QCVN40:2011/BTNMT issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the standards of the Viet Nam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP). The waste water disposed by the production and cleaning activities is gathered at the waste water treatment system, which is tested and certified by the MONRE. Every day, factory employees and VSIP representatives check and test the waste water sample to make sure it meets standards after being processed.
Regarding emissions, the factory commits to using modern, environment-friendly technologies only. The fuel used in the production is clean diesel oil and emissions are constantly checked to assure they meet standards after being treated. The factory staff often takes care of machines, assures their proper functioning and causes no impacts on the environment. Currently, the factory has developed and put into practice the environmental management system based on the international standard ISO14001:2015. With non-stop efforts of directors, managers and staff, Suntory PepsiCo Bac Ninh in recent years has received a lot of environmental awards, such as the “National Green-Growth Business 2014 Award” and the “National Green Environment 2014 Award.”
What are the effects of the factory’s investment in solar energy panels?
Saving natural resources is a key solution to reduce the impacts of production on the environment. The factory commits to protecting natural resources by using land, electricity, water and input materials in an efficient way. Saving and minimizing the use of energy and water are two of the most important targets that the factory has been applying.
To achieve that target, the factory has invested and equipped a system of solar energy panels with 400 platforms, generating total 350Kwh of electricity to reduce its dependence on the national electricity network and minimise its carbon dioxide disposal. Each year, the factory cuts 1.78 tonnes of CO2 disposed by its production (each generated 1Kwh is equal to 0.58kg of CO2). The factory makes use of solar panels on its roofs to reduce the use of electricity for lighting. Each year, the factory is able to save a total of 140,160Kwh, equal to 81 tonnes of CO2 from being disposed in the environment. The factory also re-collects and recycles water as well as applies technologies and methods to reduce the use of water, cutting the amount of waste water.
The factory has cut nearly 50% of water and power used to produce an output unit (from 4 litres to 2.5 litres of water, and from 1.7Kwh/8oz to 0.924Kwh/8oz).
Thank you!
Phuong Tam
