SABECO Charts a Path to Sustainable Leadership in Vietnam’s Green Transition

Date: November 28, 2025
Source: Vietnam Law & Legal Forum Magazine

Overview

SABECO leads Vietnam’s beverage industry.
It charts a clear path toward sustainability.
At the Sustainable Development 2025 Conference in Hanoi, Deputy General Director Larry Lee Chio Lim showed that sustainability drives growth.
He said this focus helps with competitiveness, market access, and long-term progress.

Sustainability: A Core Driver Globally and in Vietnam

The global sustainable finance market grew.
It reached US$5.87 trillion in 2024. The green economy gained strength.
By early 2025, it reached $7.9 trillion and held nearly 9% of all listed equities.

Consumers choose sustainable products.
A PwC 2024 study found that many will pay 10% more.
Efforts to cut environmental impact are now common.

Vietnam follows this trend.
It uses key tools such as the Net Zero 2050 Commitment, the National Green Growth Strategy, and the Power Development Plan VIII.

The Role of Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)

FMCG and the food and beverage sectors use over 50% of Vietnam’s energy.
They act as key drivers.
These sectors affect emissions, packaging waste, and supply chains.

Larry Lim said,
"If these sectors move, Việt Nam moves. If these sectors stall, the transition stalls."

SABECO’s Sustainability Milestones and Strategy

Key Achievements

SABECO improved renewable energy use.
Renewable energy now makes up 40.5% of production.

They cut Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 9.3%.

Water intensity improved by 7.3%.

They diverted 64.2% of waste from disposal.

All primary packaging is now 100% recyclable or reusable.

Systems-Based Approach

SABECO builds its plans on five connected levers.
They are energy decarbonization, circular packaging, water stewardship, ESG governance, and community plus supply chain resilience.

Larry Lim added,
"Sustainability only becomes real when it becomes systemic."

Energy and Water Stewardship

SABECO used rooftop solar.
It generated 7,843 MWh of clean electricity in 2024. Biomass boilers helped avoid over 7,400 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Electricity intensity dropped by 8%.
GHG intensity fell to 7.55 kg CO2e/hl.

Water use fell by 5.7%.
Rainwater harvesting grew, and wastewater now meets full standards.

Packaging and Waste Innovation

Glass bottle returns reached between 75% and 80%.
The aluminium can has become 15% lighter since 2019.
SABECO works to make every material useful.
They turn waste into new resources.

Community Impact and Governance Excellence

Their "Lighting Up Rural Areas and Borders" program now helps over 75,000 people along 109 km of road.

Sports programs reached 50,000 young people.

Tết support helped 37,500 households.
They donated VNĐ4.2 billion for Typhoon Yagi relief.

They formed a Board-level Sustainability and Risk Management Committee.
They achieved zero data privacy breaches in 2024.
Every employee received a performance evaluation.

Good governance builds trust.
It underpins their sustainable goals.

Outlook and Commitment

SABECO aims to increase renewable energy.
They will boost circular packaging and extend producer responsibility.
They plan to strengthen water resilience using advanced risk mapping.
They want to share best practices across the industry and keep transparent ESG governance.

Larry Lee Chio Lim said,
"Vietnam’s next chapter will be defined not by industries of the past, but by those embracing transformation today. With commitment and partnership, Vietnam will not only achieve a green transition—it will lead it."

Relevance for Sustainable and Organic Product Markets

SABECO leads with clear sustainability actions.
Their work shows the growing importance of environmental care in consumer goods.
They set a model for companies that want to match Vietnam’s green aims and offer products that consumers find sustainable.

For more updates on sustainable business practices and Vietnam’s green economy, stay tuned to our blog.

Design Delight Studio curates high-impact, authoritative insights into sustainable and organic product trends, helping conscious consumers and innovative brands stay ahead in a fast-evolving green economy.