SABECO: Turning sustainable development aspirations into concrete actions from 150-year heritage

On the morning of August 21, the Vietnam Business Forum for Sustainable Development 2025 (VCSF 2025) organized by the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) attracted the attention of the business community, policy makers and international organizations.

This year's theme "Sustainable Development in the New Era: Turning Aspiration into Action" is considered an urgent reminder in the context of many global socio -economic changes.

In the main discussion session, representative of Saigon Beer - Alcohol - Beverage Corporation ( SABECO ), Mr. Nguyen Hoang Giang - General Director of Saigon Beer Trading Company Limited (SATRACO), member of SABECO's Executive Board shared the business story about ESG strategy, considered one of the typical examples of turning sustainability commitment into concrete action.

From 150-year heritage to sustainable development strategy

In his speech, Mr. Giang emphasized that the world is moving in a state of volatility and uncertainty. Climate change, supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures, and changes in consumer behavior… pose urgent requirements for businesses to not only recover, but also reshape their development strategies. “At SABECO, we believe that ESG is not only a tool for adaptation, but also a strategic foundation for sustainable, proactive, and responsible development,” he said.

SABECO has a 150-year brewing heritage and is currently a pioneer in the Vietnamese beer industry. The company owns 25 factories, more than 200,000 points of sale, and exports to more than 35 countries. According to Mr. Giang, SABECO's pride lies not only in its production scale, but more importantly, in its reshaping of its mission: "We do not only produce beer, but also contribute to the sustainable development of Vietnam."

Implementing the ESG strategy, SABECO has achieved specific results in the environmental pillar. As of 2024, 64% of factories will be equipped with solar power systems; 40.54% of energy used in beer production will come from renewable sources; 64.22% of waste will be recycled or reused; water consumption per unit of product will decrease by 7.3% compared to 2023; and total greenhouse gas emissions will decrease by 9.3% compared to the base year 2023.

These are the first steps in the long-term roadmap towards the Net Zero 2050 target that SABECO has announced, with a mid-term milestone of reducing greenhouse gases by 42% by 2030. “We do not wait for perfect conditions to act. Transformation needs to start from within, step by step, with determination and clear goals,” Mr. Giang emphasized.

Rooftop solar power at Saigon Quang Ngai Brewery. Currently, 64 SABECO production facilities are installed with solar power systems.

In the social pillar, SABECO considers the community an inseparable part of its development strategy. The programs implemented in the past have brought about practical impacts: installing more than 109 km of solar street lights in 34 provinces and cities; supporting 37,500 people through the campaign “63 Connections - 1 Happy Tet”; building 30 community sports grounds. “A business is only truly sustainable when the community around it also develops sustainably. We want to create common values ​​with the people, so that no one is left behind,” Mr. Giang shared.

Connecting communities, strengthening trust through transparent governance

Along with environmental and social factors, SABECO considers transparent governance as the foundation of sustainability. 100% of its factories have achieved ISO 22000 certification for food safety and ISO 14001 for environmental management. All strategic suppliers are assessed on the basis of ESG and comply with the Code of Conduct. The company also inaugurated the SABECO Beer Research & Development Center, aiming to both enhance innovation capacity and integrate sustainability into production.

At the same time, SABECO cooperates with PRO Vietnam and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), as well as operating a transparent whistleblowing mechanism and strict anti-corruption procedures. According to Mr. Giang, without a transparent, honest and effective governance foundation, any ESG commitment will only be in form.

In 2024, SABECO will publish its first independent Sustainability Report according to GRI international standards. At the same time, the company will establish a Board-level Sustainability & Risk Management Committee, and include ESG in the internal KPIs of many departments. This is a step that demonstrates the determination to turn commitments into measurable action systems.

At VCSF 2025, SABECO’s story became a highlight when it was linked to the forum’s theme. While many businesses are still struggling between growth targets and sustainable compliance pressures, SABECO has established a direction: considering ESG as an operating philosophy, a way to define value and measure success.

“When developing on the basis of ESG, no one is left behind. And the value created will not only be sustainable for businesses, but also for the country,” Mr. Giang concluded.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/sabeco-bien-khat-vong-phat-trien-ben-vung-thanh-hanh-dong-cu-the-tu-di-san-150-nam-d367558.html