BAT Vietnam - Participating in the Vietnam Corporate Sustainability Forum (VCSF) 2025

In response to growing demands for supply chain transparency and stricter sustainability standards, the Vietnam Corporate Sustainability Forum (VCSF) 2025, held on the morning of August 22 in Hanoi, called on businesses to embed sustainability into their strategies and operations to align with the national development goals toward 2045.

This year’s event focused on clarifying the role of enterprises in realizing Vietnam’s Vision 2045 - to become a developed, high-income nation. It also served as a platform for pioneering companies to share best practices in sustainable production and business, inspiring and encouraging the wider business community to actively pursue responsible growth.

Speakers also analyzed and shared corporate solutions to support the implementation of the Politburo’s recent “Four Pillar Resolutions”: breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation (Resolution 57); international integration in the new context (Resolution 59); reforms in law-making and enforcement (Resolution 66); and private sector development (Resolution 68). In the context of globalization and intense competition, these resolutions are seen as a “compass” guiding Vietnamese enterprises confidently into a new phase of growth, accompanying the nation in its long-term objectives.

From shifting mindsets to changing actions

A key highlight of VCSF 2025 was the call for businesses to change their approach — no longer viewing sustainability as a compliance cost, but as an integral part of their operating model. Principles on climate, nature, circularity, community, and governance must be embedded across the value chain, from energy consumption, water use, and waste management to digitalization and integrity in operations.

Only when these improvements deliver measurable operational efficiency — cost savings, reduced losses, higher productivity, and improved quality — can sustainability truly become a driver of growth. The question then is: how will businesses make this happen in practice?

BAT Vietnam provides a clear example. Its investments in emission reduction have saved fuel and improved production efficiency, while its support for farmers in sustainable cultivation has boosted yields and quality in raw material areas.

When sustainability becomes a growth driver

In response to “Net Zero” trends and supply chain transparency requirements, BAT Vietnam has been implementing breakthrough solutions.

Speaking at VCSF 2025, Ms. Do Hoang Anh, External Affairs Director of BAT Vietnam, emphasized: “At BAT Vietnam, sustainability is not just a commitment — it has become a driver and a core strategy in everything we do.” BAT Vietnam has integrated five strategic priorities into its operations: climate, nature, circularity, community, and governance, each tied to specific performance indicators.

• Climate: BAT Vietnam reduces around 1,700 tons of CO₂ annually by improving energy efficiency and adopting renewable energy at factories and offices; an additional 66 tons of CO₂ are cut each year by using electric curing barns in raw material areas.
• Nature: The company manages water resources efficiently by reducing municipal water use and increasing recycled water in production. It also partners with environmental organizations such as Bien Hoa Xanh and Sai Gon Xanh to clean nearly 30 canals in Dong Nai and Ho Chi Minh City in 2024. From 2022–2024, BAT Vietnam has protected 120 hectares of mangrove forest in Ca Mau and reforested 4 hectares in Dong Nai, contributing to biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
• Circularity: BAT Vietnam promotes recycling of water and waste, maintaining zero landfill status at its two factories.
• Community: The company fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace, with women holding 47% of management positions. It also supports farmers in its supply chain with seedlings, fertilizers, drip irrigation systems (saving about 1,200 m³ of water per hectare), and electric curing barns to save fuel. Beyond the supply chain, BAT Vietnam runs the “Empowering Women” program, providing interest-free loans to over 700 women in border areas to help them improve livelihoods and strengthen their roles in families.
• Governance: BAT Vietnam reinforces ethics and integrity in business, both internally and across all partnerships in its value chain.

Ms. Do Hoang Anh concluded: “Sustainability is not about sacrificing economic benefits, but about enabling economic activities to create lasting value for many years and decades to come.”

Aligning with Government priorities

The Government’s current focus is on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation — the driving forces for Vietnam’s rapid and sustainable development.

The business community has been actively implementing technological initiatives to align with this direction. For example, BAT Vietnam has deployed the Integrated Work System (IWS), standardizing and unifying processes across departments to optimize resources and costs while achieving business goals. It has also developed the Be Safe app for employees to report safety risks, and the Bizom platform to optimize supply chains and analyze data in real time. In raw material areas, farmers are trained to use drip irrigation, electric curing barns, and drones for pesticide spraying.

BAT Vietnam also contributes to Vietnam’s international integration by offering training and expanding global career opportunities for Vietnamese employees, while proactively meeting international sustainability standards and strengthening internal compliance.

From the insights shared at VCSF 2025, it is clear that sustainability in Vietnam is no longer just a declaration. VCSF 2025 is a forum of action, where businesses present concrete figures, clear evidence, and practical solutions.

When sustainability is embedded into corporate operations, environmental and social value goes hand in hand with business performance. And when models like BAT Vietnam’s are scaled up, the goals of green growth, deeper integration, and higher governance standards will come closer to reality. This is the practical path for Vietnamese enterprises to accompany the nation on its journey toward the 2045 development milestone.