Circular economy: An urgent requirement for the development of the beverage industry

On November 7, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Association (VBA) organized the Workshop "Vietnam Beverage Industry in the New Era: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities"

The workshop was attended by nearly 200 delegates from state management agencies, experts from research institutes, nature conservation organizations, beverage businesses, supporting businesses, service and solution providers, and representatives of press and media agencies.

Essential requirements

At the workshop, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho - Deputy Director of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Policy and Strategy ( Ministry of Agriculture and Environment ) emphasized that green transformation and circular economic development are becoming the key orientation of the Vietnamese beverage industry in the coming period.

In Vietnam's green development process, the beverage industry plays an important role in realizing the goal of net zero emissions by 2050, towards a circular economic model and sustainable production.

*Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tho - Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment) spoke at the workshop.*

According to experts, green transformation according to the circular economic model will also open up many great opportunities for the beverage industry in the near future.

To achieve this goal, businesses need to continue investing in energy-saving technology, expand the use of renewable energy, manage emissions along the supply chain and develop environmentally friendly packaging.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tho emphasized: “Green transformation is not only an inevitable requirement for businesses but also an opportunity to improve competitiveness, attract investment and meet sustainable consumption trends. When the legal framework, recycling infrastructure and domestic technology are completed, the Vietnamese beverage industry can completely become one of the pioneering sectors of the national green economy.”

According to experts at the workshop, with Vietnam's commitment to achieving a net zero emissions target by 2050, the beverage industry with its large production scale and wide supply chain is facing an urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote green production.

*Delegates take souvenir photos at the conference*

Many "green" solutions

At the workshop, the discussion session with the participation of representatives from Sunstar, WWF, AB-InBev, Swan and the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Policy and Strategy also attracted many opinions and questions from businesses about technology, policies and cooperation opportunities in green transformation.

Speakers agreed that investing in new technology, developing environmentally friendly packaging, promoting supply chain cooperation, applying AI technology, and digital transformation are the future direction and decisive factors for the Vietnamese beverage industry to move closer to a circular and sustainable economic model.

*Experts in discussion session at the workshop*

Expert Bui Tran Trung Hau - representative of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Vietnam said that electrification will be a solution to reduce emissions for the beverage industry in Vietnam. According to Mr. Hau, this solution will bring potential benefits to businesses in optimizing operating costs, reducing emissions, improving heat efficiency, recovering heat through smart systems, and moving towards a green factory.

“ Solutions, initiatives and international experience from WWF will certainly contribute to helping the Vietnamese beverage industry move towards greener, cleaner and more sustainable production in the coming time,” said Mr. Hau.

Mr. Pham Hoang Quan - Chief Representative of Swan Analytical Instruments in Vietnam, said that in the beverage production industry, quality control and ensuring hygiene and safety in each stage always play a key role. One of the advanced solutions currently being applied is the application of Ozone (O₃) concentration monitoring technology - an important factor in optimizing the sterilization process in the bottled water production line, both improving operational efficiency and ensuring food safety standards and environmental protection.

From a practical business perspective, representative of AB-InBev Vietnam Company, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich - Director of Supply Chain Southeast Asia also shared about the needs and solutions to promote sustainable application of beverage industry enterprises.

According to Ms. Bich, AB InBev Vietnam Beer Company Limited has applied solutions to help businesses adapt to new trends in the industry, from technological innovation to sustainable development and product diversification. As the world's leading beer group with a presence in more than 50 countries and famous brands such as Budweiser, Corona, Stella Artois..., AB InBev Company continuously invests in modern technology, smart production and effective energy management, to optimize the supply chain, reduce costs and limit environmental impact.

In addition, the company has implemented many programs to protect water resources and act for the community, affirming its commitment to sustainable development.

In response to the consumer trend of focusing on health and experience, AB InBev has also expanded its product portfolio, from traditional beer to non-alcoholic Budweiser 0.0, to meet the diverse needs of modern consumers. With the vision of “Towards a future with more joy”, AB InBev continues to accompany the Vietnamese beverage industry on the journey of greening production and sustainable development in the new era.

At the workshop, businesses all expressed their interest in new trends and did not hesitate to invest to improve competitiveness and innovation. This, on the one hand, helps their businesses catch up with development trends, and on the other hand, contributes more to the sustainable development of the industry, demonstrating the responsibility of businesses to society and environmental protection.

At the end of the workshop, the VBA Association affirmed that this workshop is one of the regular activities, not only a forum for professional exchange, but also an opportunity to connect businesses, management agencies and international organizations to act together for a sustainable, safe and environmentally friendly beverage industry.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/kinh-te-tuan-hoan-yeu-cau-cap-thiet-de-phat-trien-nganh-do-duong-429416.html