From Vietnam, an FMCG business rises to the global ESG leadership group

(Chinhphu.vn) - According to the latest assessment by S&P Global, Masan Consumer Joint Stock Company (Masan Consumer) is the Vietnamese enterprise with the highest ESG score published on this platform. The company has surpassed more than 85% of about 330 enterprises in the same fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry globally - demonstrating the capacity of Vietnamese enterprises in meeting international governance standards.

"Green" workspace at Masan Consumer

ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) has emerged as a mainstream global business standard, driving investment flows. According to Bloomberg Intelligence, ESG assets surpassed $41 trillion in 2022 and are expected to reach $50 trillion by 2025, reflecting a strong shift of capital to sustainable businesses.

Major economies such as the US, EU and Japan are adopting strict regulations on ESG reporting. For example, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires listed companies to disclose ESG information from 2022, while the EU has applied the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD) to more than 11,000 companies since 2014, and upgraded it to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in 2023.

Vietnamese government promotes green transformation

In the regional context, Vietnam has emerged as a bright spot in green transformation with strong international commitments. Speaking at the COP26 Conference, the Prime Minister, on behalf of Vietnam, pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, demonstrating the highest political determination towards sustainable development.

To realize this goal, the Government has issued the National Strategy on Green Growth for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, the Vietnam Sustainable Development Strategy for 2022-2030, along with a series of Decisions, Decrees and Circulars on greenhouse gas emission reduction, circular economy, and sustainable corporate governance.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Securities Commission have proactively developed a framework for ESG reporting guidelines for Vietnamese enterprises, while implementing technical assistance programs and improving governance capacity for the private sector. Integrating ESG criteria into the green credit rating system, public procurement, and investment incentive policies is helping to form a sustainable ecosystem, creating conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to deeply integrate with global standards.

The Government identifies green transformation and ESG as not only a responsibility, but also a new development opportunity, opening up directions for domestic enterprises to access markets, capital flows and international partners.

Naming Masan Consumer - Vietnamese enterprise affirms its position on the global ESG map

In that context, the latest assessment results from S&P Global named Masan Consumer – a representative of Vietnam – surpassing more than 85% of about 330 companies in the same fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry evaluated globally, becoming the Vietnamese enterprise with the highest ESG score published on the S&P Global platform today.

On the eve of the Lunar New Year 2025, Masan Consumer's products have contributed to enriching the spring atmosphere in Truong Sa by donating 2,000 Omachi boxes and 1,000 self-boiling hot pot boxes to the soldiers and people of the island district.

What makes Masan Consumer's score strong is the balance and uniform superiority across all three pillars of Environment (E), Society (S) and Governance (G), with respective scores of 47 points, 47 points and 51 points.

These figures not only reflect the internal strength of enterprises, but also international recognition of their integration capacity and compliance with global standards. These achievements also demonstrate the efforts of the Vietnamese private sector in transforming the development model from pure growth to green growth, taking sustainability as a guiding principle.

Masan Consumer has proven that Vietnamese enterprises can absolutely rise to the leading group, actively contributing to the country's sustainable development goals.

This success comes from Masan Consumer placing ESG at the center of its development strategy, with the core principle of "Doing Well By Doing Good" - prosperous development associated with contributing to the community.

The year 2024 marks an important step forward, when sustainable development becomes an inseparable part of the long-term strategy, helping businesses balance business efficiency, social benefits and environmental responsibility. Not only aiming for profit, Masan Consumer proactively builds a new value system - where every production and business activity is associated with a positive impact on people and the social community.

Consumers love Masan Consumer products. Photo: VGP/VH

The Company's strategic framework is oriented towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), focusing on three pillars: "Promoting innovation for sustainable growth", "Caring for the environment and community" and "Winning the trust of employees and customers". From this orientation, Masan Consumer has materialized through a series of innovative initiatives: applying clean technology in production, optimizing the supply chain to reduce energy and raw material consumption, and cooperating with domestic and international organizations to spread the sustainable business model in the fast-moving consumer goods industry.

In particular, Masan Consumer has implemented the Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Roadmap for the period 2024–2050, aiming for net zero emissions. Thanks to a focus on increasing operational efficiency, technological innovation and renewable energy application, Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by 18.33% compared to 2023. Currently, about 65% of total energy consumption comes from renewable sources, and more than 80% of waste is treated or diverted from traditional landfills. In addition, the company is expanding the application of AI technology in energy management and automatic emission monitoring, helping to improve transparency and ESG governance efficiency.

The company has also invested heavily in technological transformation and the circular economy: converting 100% of its forklifts to electric, increasing the proportion of recycled plastic in its packaging, and restructuring its entire production process to reduce its environmental footprint. These initiatives not only help save operating costs but also contribute to strengthening Vietnam’s brand as a pioneer in the green development model – harmonizing economic and social benefits.

At Masan Consumer, people are considered the center of every strategy. For 3 consecutive years (2023-2025), the Company was honored as an "Excellent Workplace", with 87% of employees rating the working environment positively.

Diversity and equality policies are evident: 43% of middle and senior management are female, reflecting a culture of respect and equal opportunity. 100% of factories are internationally certified for food safety, and the supply chain is transparently managed, ensuring responsible sourcing.

In addition, Masan Consumer also focuses on investing in training and developing employee capacity, implementing programs to improve digital skills, sustainable management and innovation. Welfare and welfare activities are maintained regularly, helping employees feel secure in their long-term commitment, while spreading the spirit of social responsibility throughout the system.

Clearly, Masan Consumer is on the right track: ESG is not only a governance tool, but also a foundation to enhance Vietnam's position in the global value chain.

Vinh Hoang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/tu-viet-nam-mot-doanh-nghiep-fmcg-vuon-len-nhom-dan-dau-esg-toan-cau-102251014133239038.htm