Consumers change, businesses "transform"

Within the framework of the workshop "Connecting safe food products to modern distribution channels" organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on July 17, a discussion session took place with the topic: "Consumption trends: green consumption, sustainable consumption".

The Ministry of Industry and Trade actively implements the green consumption and sustainable consumption project.

Sharing at the discussion session, Ms. Le Viet Nga, Deputy Director of the Domestic Market Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) said: In the context of 2023, the Prime Minister has approved an important project directly related to the topic "Green consumption trends, sustainable consumption". This is also a national action program to transform the food system to be transparent, responsible and sustainable.

Overview of the discussion session with the topic: "Consumption trends: green consumption, sustainable consumption"

The goal is to develop an action plan to create a system from production, processing to distribution and consumption of food that is transparent, responsible and sustainable, ensuring food safety while protecting the environment and being responsible to the community and people's health.

Consumers themselves are also responsible for using food in a way that protects the environment. The Prime Minister has assigned 3 ministries to take charge of implementing the program: the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Health . This is an inevitable trend for the food production, processing, distribution and consumption system in Vietnam from now until 2030.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has two important documents in progress and has been actively supported by businesses. The first is the national action plan on implementing the domestic trade development strategy for the period up to 2030 and vision to 2045; The second is that in December 2022, the Minister of Industry and Trade also issued a national action program on responding to climate change and green growth of the Industry and Trade sector for the period up to 2030 and vision to 2050.

Ms. Le Viet Nga, Deputy Director of Domestic Market Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Also in the discussion session, Ms. Nguyen Quynh Anh, Vice Chairman of the National Competition Commission (Ministry of Industry and Trade) gave her assessment of the Law on Consumer Protection (amended). She said: The Law on Consumer Protection 2013 was passed last year and officially took effect from July 1. The law was passed by the National Assembly with an approval rate of more than 92%, meaning that when voting, the delegates were all very aware that they were also consumers. Enterprises themselves, as producers, are also consumers.

The special point in the Law on Consumer Protection, in addition to many other groups of subjects, is that sustainable production and consumption is one of the 7 policies, which has been proposed and specified in a number of articles since the time of drafting the Law. For example, Article 7 stipulates that consumers have the right to enjoy policies on sustainable production and consumption, and then specified in Articles 75 to 77 of the new Law.

Hope businesses accompany

According to Ms. Nguyen Quynh Anh, before the Law on Consumer Protection was issued, we implemented a program to promote sustainable production and consumption with the Department of Energy Saving and Sustainable Development (Ministry of Industry and Trade).

Ms. Nguyen Quynh Anh, Vice Chairman of the National Competition Commission (Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Right from the first years, we were very aware that production or consumption must eventually have an output, there must be a place where consumers accept the product to promote production. " In the law we put forward, there are two concepts. Specifically, consumer rights, that is, consumers have the right to enjoy green products, goods, and services, but conversely, consumers also have responsibilities in it, so propaganda and dissemination are very important. I hope that businesses will join us so that we can join hands to protect consumer rights " - Ms. Nguyen Quynh Anh said.

Meanwhile, Ms. Le Thi Hoai Thuong, Senior External Relations Manager of Nestle Vietnam, affirmed that the company has made sustainable development commitments in the past time. Sustainable development will bring true value to businesses and consumers.

In Vietnam, Nestle Vietnam has introduced a sustainable and regenerative development model, focusing on combating climate change, responsible purchasing, with a set of purchasing criteria and principles, ensuring the entire supply chain reduces emissions and implements regenerative agriculture, conserves water resources, and develops sustainable packaging...

“ Nestle Vietnam is the first enterprise in Vietnam to convert 100% of straws for ready-to-drink products from disposable plastic to paper straws from sustainable forest sources ,” said Ms. Le Thi Hoai Thuong.

Ms. Le Thi Hoai Thuong, Senior External Relations Manager, Nestle Vietnam

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Phuong, Director of Trade, Central Retail Group (GO! Supermarket, Big C, Top Market) said that, in addition to the core retail activities of business development, Central Retail focuses on developing green consumption and sustainable consumption. The supermarket with more than 30,000 products has clearly changed, with more green products and green packaging in many product lines... This is a big turning point demonstrating the company's efforts in working with suppliers. According to Ms. Phuong, consumers are now ready to spend on green consumption, join hands with businesses to participate in programs not to use plastic bags, and are ready to use carton boxes for large orders.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Phuong - Commercial Director of Product Line, Central Retail Group (supermarkets GO!, Big C, Top Market)

“ At locations near parking lots, we and our partners place recycling machines from plastic bottles or aluminum cans, and instruct customers on how to sort waste at source… In addition to being satisfied with the services and products, customers are also satisfied because they have contributed and joined in part to the development of green and sustainable consumption. We are not only a retail business but also a sustainable development business ,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Phuong shared.

Ms. Le Viet Nga added that through the reports, it can be seen that the policies are coming into life, not just "cold room policies" and not responded by businesses. Businesses are aware of their responsibilities as well as at the same time see the advantages. When doing business in food safety, doing business in environmentally friendly products, we have a "file" of very favorable customers and consumers are also aware of the issue of green consumption.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/xu-huong-tieu-dung-xanh-tieu-dung-ben-vung-nguoi-tieu-dung-thay-doi-doanh-nghiep-chuyen-minh-333077.html