Coca-Cola Vietnam has been named amongst the top 3 most sustainable companies in 2023 in Vietnam and Top 5 Pioneering Businesses in implementing circular economy and decarbonization in Vietnam in 2023 at the CSI – 100 Ceremony. The event was organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in cooperation with the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD), the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
For the eighth consecutive year, Coca-Cola has been recognized as one of Vietnam’s most sustainable companies, affirming its sustainability efforts across all their business activities regarding the economy, society, and the environment. The recognition underscores Coca-Cola Vietnam’s achievements in meeting the 2023 Corporate Sustainable Index (CSI) with 130 indicators, including 82 indicators related to mandatory legal and compliance requirements, and 48 advanced indicators related to sustainable business initiatives which ensure harmonized benefits for partners, communities, and stakeholders.
“Coca-Cola embraces the principles of sustainable development in doing business aligned to the ESG policy. Being recognized as one of the Top 10 sustainable companies in Vietnam is an honor for all of us at Coca-Cola. We are so proud and motivated to continue driving our sustainability programs and activities as we partner towards a better shared future for people, communities, and the environment here in Vietnam,” said Peeyush Sharma, CEO, Coca-Cola Beverage Vietnam Limited Company.
Relentlessly working towards “A World Without Waste” vision
In 2018, Coca-Cola committed to a World Without Waste, pledging to collect and recycle the equivalent of a bottle or can sold by 2030, using at least 50% recycled materials in its packaging globally.
To boost consumer awareness of PET plastic bottle recycling, while supporting Vietnam’s circular economy, Coca-Cola recently launched a program, “Our bottles can have many lives”, in collaboration with Duy Tan Plastic Recycling and VECA, a digital scrap collection application. Throughout its product recycling process in Vietnam, Coca-Cola complies with regulations of extended producer responsibility (EPR) for collecting, recycling, and waste management throughout the product life cycle to promote a circular economy for packaging waste, especially plastic packaging.
In May 2023, Coca-Cola marked a year of partnership with The Ocean Cleanup Organization with the release of a short film “River Tales”. The collaboration deployed the Interceptor™ river cleaning system on the Can Tho River, reducing plastic waste entering the ocean by 120 tonnes within one year of operation and showcasing the impact of technology and community contributions.
In September 2022, Coca-Cola Vietnam introduced 100% recycled PET bottles (rPET) nationwide for COCA-COLA Original and COCA-COLA Zero Sugar. This initiative is anticipated to enable the company to circumvent the use of approximately 2,000 tonnes of new plastic annually in Vietnam. In 2021, Coca-Cola Vietnam transitioned Sprite packaging to clear PET plastic bottle, to enhance local recycling, adding a “Recycle Me” message on packaging labels across its portfolio in Vietnam to encourage consumer participation.
Additionally, Coca-Cola collaborates with strategic partners, including the Centre for Supporting Green Development (GreenHub), UNESCO, and Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam). The partnerships aim to accelerate local collection and recycling initiatives, raising awareness on the benefits of proper waste segregation and recycling for a circular economy in Vietnam.
Sustainability development for the community we call home
Contributing to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, Coca-Cola has created nearly 2,000 local jobs, generating 6 to 8 times more jobs from its supply chain operations spanning over 1.2 million retail partners nationwide. Supported by three operational manufacturing plants, two distribution centers, and an upcoming factory in Long An, the Company is set to expand its product portfolio to serve the increasingly diverse consumer needs.
To realize the Sustainable Development Goals, Coca Cola’s activities and initiatives in Vietnam are pegged to six main pillars: Reducing sugar content; Providing clean water to people in 12 provinces nationwide; Sustainable packaging; Building resilience against climate change; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; and Supporting the Community.
