Efforts to reduce emissions in production

Reducing emissions in production is a mandatory direction for businesses to enhance their capacity and adapt to international standards, while also contributing to environmental protection goals and national commitments.

Investing in modern technology and machinery is one of the solutions to improve production efficiency and reduce emissions to the environment. Photo: Vuong The

Dong Nai has a large industrial production sector, resulting in significant annual emissions. Alongside local policies, industries that adopt green production practices for sustainable development play an important role in moving towards sustainable development.

Requirements of the future

According to Associate Professor Dr Phung Chi Sy, Director of the Environmental Technology Center (ENTEC) under the Vietnam Association for the Conservation of Nature and Environment, sustainable development requires production sectors to implement plans to reduce emissions during operations. The green economy, environmentally friendly production, and international standards are becoming increasingly stringent, especially in highly developed countries. This transition is a global trend that no country can go against, as doing so would mean falling behind and isolating itself.

Similarly, Nguyen Thi Truyen, Senior Expert at the International Labour Organization (ILO), stated that under current regulations, all production facilities with annual greenhouse gas emissions of 3,000 tons of CO2 equivalent or more are required to conduct greenhouse gas inventories. Data from inventories at several wood-processing enterprises show that emissions from electricity consumption account for up to 90 percent of total emissions, while direct emissions make up less than 10 percent. In addition to emissions generated during production, there are also emissions across the supply chain. Therefore, reducing electricity consumption is the most effective way to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving this requires a coordinated approach that combines management solutions, technical measures, and a gradual shift to alternative energy sources.

There is still significant room for enterprises to optimize production, energy use, and raw material consumption to reduce emissions. However, most small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have yet to pay sufficient attention. Depending on their specific conditions, enterprises can adopt large-scale investment solutions such as strengthening internal management, enhancing monitoring system efficiency, investing in modern automated machinery to reduce energy consumption, or installing solar power systems.

Like the rest of the country, Dong Nai, a province with large-scale industrial production, is paying close attention to this issue and has set a target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Thanks to ongoing efforts, the province has already achieved some notable initial results. For example, the Ministry of Planning and Investment selected Amata Industrial Park (Long Binh ward) to pilot an eco-industrial park model. The province has also taken a selective approach to attracting local investment, focusing on modern sectors that reduce intensive use of land, labor, and raw materials while delivering high economic efficiency.

Businesses cannot stay out of it

Driven by the essential requirements of sustainable development and the need to enhance their capacity and expertise, businesses must take action. At On Semiconductor Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park, Tran Bien ward, part of the On Semiconductor Group, an American semiconductor supplier company), 90% of the company’s products serve the automobile manufacturing industry. The enterprise has invested in a project spanning over 2.3 hectares with a total capital of 200 million USD. Its operations focus on manufacturing and processing integrated circuits and semiconductor components, with all products intended for export, and notably, the company generates no waste to the environment.

Similarly, Bosch Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Long Thanh Industrial Park, Long Thanh commune, part of Germany’s Bosch Group) has set standards and commitments to environmental protection. The factory has established a wastewater recycling system, and since 2020, 65% of total water consumption has been treated and reused, contributing to resource conservation. Additionally, the company has installed a solar power system, generating approximately 2,300 MWh of clean energy annually and reducing over 1,600 tons of CO₂ emissions.

Not only foreign investors but also domestic enterprises are increasingly paying attention to emission reduction efforts.

Activities aimed at reducing emissions have helped businesses lower energy consumption and increase productivity during production. Therefore, enterprises must shift from traditional methods toward emission reduction and greening their current supply chains, viewing this as an opportunity for transformation rather than a challenge.    

Nguyen Phuong, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai Wood and Handicrafts Association (Dowa) and Executive Director of Vitana One-Member Co., Ltd. (Giang Dien Industrial Park, Trang Bom commune), stated that the State has issued regulations requiring greenhouse gas inventories from enterprises, starting with large manufacturing companies. Globally, carbon emissions remain a key concern. In the future, the buying and selling of products will need to account for carbon consumption, something especially important and mandatory for the wood industry. Vitana is currently conducting greenhouse gas inventories in collaboration with the ILO, aiming to reduce emissions as effectively as possible while also enhancing its production capacity.

By Vuong The - Translated by Dang Huyen, Minho