They do not want to become a pathfinder or a trendsetter in environment protection, but many foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam have come to the forefront, initiating their own ways of fostering green production and green workplace
Facing with huge risks posed by global warming, these enterprises understand that if they do not contribute their part to solving the problem, they are part of the problem. This simple philosophy is echoed by Tim Baxter, when asked why he rallied 400 of his staff at DHL-VNPT Express to join a green campaign in Can Gio Biosphere Reserve in the city’s outlying district and Tam Dao National Park in northern Vietnam ten days ago. DHL staff on the day planted 12,000 trees in these two locales, says Tim Baxter, general director of the joint venture between DHL and Vietnam’s VNPT Group.
“This year’s DHL Volunteer Day in Vietnam will raise further awareness about climate protection among the company’s employees and make them understand why their contribution is crucial,” remarks the CEO, who plainly says a better environment will benefit all people in Vietnam as well as the company itself.
The campaign is not theatrical, however, as DHL-VNPT Express has also painstakingly built schemes to turn its workplace into a green environment, not only in Vietnam but elsewhere in the world. The company is making strides in reducing its carbon dioxide emissions and aiding customers in achieving a greener footprint.
DHL staff are now working on ways of increasing resource efficiency. To further strengthen its commitment to environmental protection, the company has fully fitted most of its facilities in Vietnam, including HCM City Gateway and Hanoi Service Center with energy-saving light bulbs.
Certainly, saving energy is good for both the environment and DHL, as this was proved in the financial year 2009 when DHL Express across Asia Pacific achieved the carbon dioxide emission reduction by 13,000 tons and 10 million euro savings from overall energy and ground vehicular fuel costs.
Riding on the achievements, DHL has set itself the goal of improving carbon efficiency by 10% by 2012 and 30% by 2020 for the company and its subcontractors as well.
In another success story, Cyprus-based PEB Steel Buildings Co., which came to Vietnam in 1994, has adapted its production to the trend of environment protection, turning out green products and promoting green development altogether.
In fact, PEB Steel has become the first pre-engineered steel building company in Vietnam to become a member of the U.S. Green Building Council. The firm’s commitment to the environment takes many forms in the design and use of materials for its projects.
Although the company has previously provided green pre-engineered buildings which help save on energy, it last year started to promote the green values of its products after winning a contract to build green industrial projects for a Nike shoe subcontractor in Tay Ninh Province. The 220,000-square-meter factory is invested by Taekwang Vina, which demanded that Environment Conditions be satisfied by using materials which meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements.
To meet LEED requirements, PEB Steel chooses environmentally friendly products and materials, including spangle galvanized lead-free purlins, non-chromate steel sheet for roofing and wall system, or wall system with high solar reflectance and recycle content. These buildings are designed to ensure fullness of natural lights, and little heat to limit usage of electric lighting and air conditioners, thus saving on energy.
“Last year, after winning the contract for the green projects, we realized that our products could meet the environmental requirements, so why don’t we promote the green values of them,” says Vo Hoang Dung, marketing manager of the company.
Nabil Khalaf, plant manager of PEB Steel Building factory in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, says the company saves on over 20% of energy cost by reducing energy consumption through the use of energy-efficient lighting, high-performance exterior walls with improved insulation, and high-efficiency mechanical system.
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