Solum Vina Co., Ltd. invests in modern, highly automated production lines across all stages

Businesses aim for cleaner production

Proactively joining the environmentally friendly green production campaign and ensuring consumer health, businesses in Vinh Phuc province have paid more attention to using natural raw materials, fuels and non-toxic chemicals; and investing in modern machinery, technology and production equipment according to international standards to improve processes to move toward green production. Or, they have chosen to invest in installing renewable energy and clean energy systems, safety and hygiene quality management systems and waste treatment systems, aiming for green and clean production criteria.

As a leading green FDI enterprise that positively helps society, Toyota Vietnam has focused on investing and applying environmentally friendly modern technologies to production; adopted environmental protection practices at its factories and dealerships; manufactured new vehicle models with low emissions with the "For a society with no CO2 emissions" message. Besides, it has adopted a closed green cycle across the entire system, from factories and suppliers to dealers to minimize negative impacts on soil, water and air environment. Currently, 95% of Toyota dealers nationwide have obtained ISO 14001 environmental certification and 100% of dealers have participated and responded to the "Say no to single-use plastic" campaign. In 2023, the company launched new hybrid models, Yaris Cross Hybrid and Innova Cross Hybrid - leading models in reducing emissions and saving fuels, suitable for infrastructure conditions in Vietnam.

In particular, aiming to become a "green business", Toyota Vietnam launched many environmental protection activities like storing, collecting and processing discarded hybrid batteries, using solar battery systems, and building playgrounds for children from recycled tires. The company also cooperated with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to carrying the "Planting 1 billion trees - For a green Vietnam" program; built an automatic wastewater quality monitoring system and sent data to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment; supported its suppliers to achieve ISO: 14001 certifications within a year of cooperation to maintain the "Green Supply Chain" principle. Currently, 100% of Toyota dealers have adopted CO2 emission reduction measures like replacing fluorescent lamps with LED lamps and posting energy-saving reminder labels at switch locations.

Also aiming for green production, since it invested in building its factory in Ba Thien II Industrial Park in 2016, Solum Vina Co., Ltd. has centered on investing in highly automated modern production lines at all stages and built a high-tech research and development center. The company has also collaborated with Vinh Phuc Vocational College to train skilled high-tech workers. Currently, on average, the company manufactures and supplies more than 10,000 products a month to well-known electronics companies such as Samsung, Apple, Panasonic and Sony. In 2023, its revenue was six times higher than its total investment fund and more than 20 times higher than the actual contributed capital.

Officially put into operation in Khai Quang Industrial Park in 2007, Strongway Vinh Phuc Industrial Co., Ltd (a 100% Taiwanese and Chinese-owned company) manufactures automobile and motorbike components and spare parts. Since 2016, the company has invested in rooftop solar power systems with modern machinery and equipment like automatic robots, artificial intelligence and smart sensors to enhance productivity and product quality and optimize profit margin. Hwang Chih Lang, General Director of Strongway Vinh Phuc Industrial Co., Ltd, said: The company always focuses on implementing green energy and renewable energy solutions by installing rooftop solar power systems and investing, installing and using electrical equipment imported from Europe and Japan, enabling it to reduce arising costs by 25-30%, increase profitability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build a sustainable development environment in and around the industrial park.

Indeed, cleaner production is not only a tool for businesses to end environmental pollution but also brings many benefits like slashing environmental costs, reducing waste and increasing incomes from reused waste. Currently, many companies in Vinh Phuc province have been applying cleaner production technology processes to their operations, thereby contributing to environmental protection and earning high economic benefits.

Approach to green business development

Along with proven benefits, Vinh Phuc province is also, in fact, facing environmental and climate challenges. For instance, it lacks waste and wastewater treatment plants, and a large number of small-scale production projects are deployed outside industrial parks, largely manufacturing inputs like steel, iron and construction materials. In addition, the lack of specialized training programs and limited investment in skills education and improvement for workers has led to a shortage of high-quality human resources and weakened competitiveness to environmentally friendly high-tech investors. Therefore, many businesses, especially high-tech ones, are still hesitant to invest in the province, negatively affecting sustainable economic development goals and long-term growth of the province.

To develop a green economy, in the coming time, Vinh Phuc will continue to promote education and raise public awareness of the benefits of green business; strengthen training programs, seminars and communication campaigns to help businesses and the community better understand the importance of sustainable development; encourage businesses to boost innovations; facilitate them to invest in research and development (R&D), seek environmentally friendly production and business solutions; attract green financial resources, improve corporate competitiveness; and form an ecosystem to support green businesses and connect businesses with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), authorities and international partners.

Vinh Phuc is becoming an attractive destination for domestic and foreign investors. Encouraging green business development is not only a vital trend but also an opportunity for Vinh Phuc province to achieve sustainable development. The province needs to make more efforts to create a favorable environment for green business development and hence contributing to the overall development of Vietnam.