The U.S.-based Procter & Gamble is known as being one of the leading companies in the world for producing and distributing consumer goods - but they are also frontrunners in Vietnam for their green awareness.
In Vietnam, P&G Vietnam has also been successful with its familiar products such as Pantene, Rejoice and Head & Shoulders shampoo, Tide detergent, Downy liquid fabric softener, Pampers diaper, and Olay skin care products.
The company has also realized that environmental protection is not just a responsibility for the present but also for future generations.
So, since 2006 P&G Vietnam has carried out a program for sustainable development for the 2006-2012 period with many concrete and practical targets for a sustainable environment for the local community.
The company has accelerated its commitments by defining many obtainable goals to cut down the consumption of energy and water at its manufacturing facilities in Vietnam.
Furthermore, the company strives to reduce discharged waste and carbon dioxide responsible for the greenhouse effect at its factories located in the southern province of Binh Duong.
In appraising the results after three years of the sustainable development program, the firm says the most encouraging result of all is that its staff members take on board their responsibilities to the community.
It has cut down energy consumption by 15%, carbon dioxide emissions by 18%, waste by 15% and water use by 31%. As a result, P&G Vietnam has been acknowledged by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. In January, the ministry awarded the first certificate of ‘Green Label of Vietnam’ for P&G Vietnam’s Tide detergent product, which is valid until January 2014.
Bui Cach Tuyen, deputy minister of natural resources and environment, said at the time: “The award of green label for P&G Vietnam is very meaningful because the award is close to every aspect of our life through environmental friendly products.”
As part of a strategy to grow responsibly, the company will work towards a new long-term environmental sustainability vision that has just been announced. While it will take decades to achieve this vision, a 10-year goal has been also established for 2020.
For products, the company will replace petroleum-based materials with sustainable sourced renewable materials by 25%.
For manufacturers, it will continually improve its production technologies by cutting power usage by 30%, reduce discharged waste during the production activities by 0.5% and decrease the transport cost of each product unit by 20% in a decade.
To obtain the above goals, the firm has renovated the roofing system of factories and storage to make full advantage of natural light.
The company installs automatic sensors for all lighting systems inside its manufacturing campus to avoid wasteful power as well as applying ‘Pigging’ technology for almost all its assembly lines to save 43% of water.
