Hai Phong businesses step up environmental protection efforts

Prioritizing environmental protection

In new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs), requirements on environmental protection and low emissions are set as binding commitments. Products and brands are now evaluated more strictly in terms of sustainable development, based on how well businesses comply with environmental, social, and labor responsibility standards.

Production is no longer driven solely by profit; environmental protection and sustainable development have become key priorities for many businesses in Hai Phong. At HHP Global Joint Stock Company, the company is committed to ESG practices—environmental, social, and governance factors—with environmental protection placed at the forefront. It has invested in a wastewater treatment system with a capacity of 3,500 m³ per day, applying advanced technologies such as Fenton treatment tanks and sedimentation systems to ensure treated wastewater meets Column A standards under national industrial wastewater regulations.

The company has also invested in a paper manufacturing plant meeting LEED certification standards and developed a smart factory model (3S iFactory), taking the lead in digital transformation. It is committed to ESG implementation, sustainable development, and aims to achieve Net Zero emissions before 2035.

Recognizing the environmental burden of the plastics industry, according to Ms. Pham Thi Dau, Director of Hai Ha Packaging Joint Stock Company, since early 2026 the company has upgraded equipment and technology to produce biodegradable packaging. Instead of petroleum-based materials, the new process utilizes agricultural by-products combined with bio-based materials such as corn, potato, cassava starch, and other crops. As a result, the packaging can decompose by over 90% into harmless organic substances within about 18 months after use.

Meanwhile, An Phat Holdings has mastered the production of fully biodegradable materials and products under the AnEco brand, including bags, cutlery, gloves, and table covers. These products meet stringent international certifications and are exported to more than 20 countries. AnEco products can fully decompose into humus, CO₂, and water, directly contributing to reducing plastic waste pollution and promoting a circular economy and sustainable development.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, General Director of Hai Phong Paint Joint Stock Company, the company has focused on investing in environmentally friendly technologies to support sustainable growth, with the goal of becoming a national brand. It maintains the application of the ISO 14001 environmental management system and works to prevent and reduce pollution by minimizing and gradually replacing hazardous chemicals. A range of new-generation eco-friendly products has been developed and introduced to the market, including high-solid coatings, water-based solvent systems, and next-generation silicon antifouling paints.

Spreading awareness among workers

Environmental awareness and emission reduction efforts are increasingly being embraced by workers and employees. At HHP Global Joint Stock Company, staff are encouraged to propose initiatives and solutions aimed at saving fuel and protecting the environment.

With its strategic goals and vision, green business at the company is not only a responsibility but also an opportunity for innovation and sustainable value creation for the community. Ms. Nguyen Thi Nu, Head of the Pulp Preparation Team at the company’s paper factory, shared: “Through our daily work and continuous research into each stage of production, my colleagues and I implemented an initiative to reduce electricity consumption in the paper production line. Based on detailed calculations, this solution generates savings of approximately VND 2.28 billion per year.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Duong, Chairman of the Trade Union at Nissei Technology Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Phuc Dien Industrial Park), the company is gradually building a roadmap to reduce emissions in industrial production. An initiative to cut CO₂ emissions in the company’s operations and industrial park won a consolation prize at the 2025 Hai Phong Technical Innovation Contest for workers and employees.

In response to the growing demand that “innovation must go hand in hand with digital transformation, and improvements must aim at automation, energy efficiency, and environmental protection,” with the overarching message “Be a Worker 4.0,” the Hai Phong Labor Federation calls on all union members and workers to continuously learn, improve digital skills, master modern machinery, and proactively propose initiatives arising from daily work.

“Creativity often begins with simple questions: How can we do this faster, more efficiently, more economically, and more safely? Small improvements, when scaled up, create great strength. Each idea, when valued and supported in a timely manner, becomes a sustainable asset for both businesses and society,” emphasized Nguyen Anh Tuan, Member of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Hai Phong Labor Federation.

Huy Dai