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Carbon labelling enhances capacity for exported goods

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Carbon labelling on products will help manufacturers enhance their competitive capacity to approach strict markets, such as the United States and the EU.

Carbon labelling enhances capacity for exported goods
Vietnam’s legal system is currently lacking an institutional mechanism for carbon labelling, photo Le Toan

The Department of Climate Change (DCC), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, is working with international partners and consultants to implement voluntary carbon labelling for business products in Vietnam.

The initiative, sponsored by the Energy Transition Partnership, is to be carried out from now to May 2026. The target is to provide technical input and necessary support for the DCC to design and introduce a voluntary carbon labelling scheme, and prepare the private sector for carbon accounting and carbon emission reduction through a pilot programme in selected sectors.

It will assess the existing domestic policy framework and infrastructure and identify what is needed further for effective voluntary carbon labelling in Vietnam. Lessons learnt from international case studies will be used to propose enabling policies, regulations, and capacity-building measures for the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

According to the multidisciplinary consulting company RCEE-NIRAS, the programme will propose a design for voluntary carbon labelling, including technical components, certification and verification, institutional arrangements, implementation procedures, and capacity-building.

After that, the consultant unit will pilot the designed units in selected sectors based on a set of criteria. It will include awareness-raising, training, and communication activities to encourage the carbon labelling concept for Vietnam’s energy-intensive export sectors.

“Vietnam’s legal framework has no institutional mechanism for carbon labelling. The pilot implementation of a carbon labelling programme, based on voluntary participation, contributes to enhancing capabilities and increasing competitive advantages for businesses. In terms of technical support, the implementing agency aims to develop policies to assist the private sector in building capacity for inventory, assessment, and other sustainable development efforts,” said Hoang Anh, an expert at RCEE-NIRAS.

It is anticipated that 11 industry groups or sub-sectors will be affected by international mechanisms such as the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which include energy-intensive and high-emission industries, as well as sectors currently impacted by energy transition policies.

“Thus, we are considering selecting these industries for qualitative and quantitative assessment. These industries include aluminium, cement, chemicals, electrical equipment, food processing, iron and steel, plastics, and more,” said Hoang Anh.

DCC deputy director Nguyen Tuan Quang said, “Carbon labelling will help reduce carbon leakage or carbon shifting between countries, which meets the demand of developed countries applying the CBAM. It will also be a solution to enhance the businesses’ competitive capacity in the context it is a short time before the EU imposes emission taxes.”

The transitional period for the CBAM began in October 2023 and will continue until the end of 2025. During this period, importers of goods must submit reports that include the carbon price due in the country of origin for the emissions. This primarily applies to goods with a high risk of carbon leakage, such as iron and steel, cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity, and hydrogen.

After the transitional period, importers will be required to acquire certificates corresponding to the carbon price applicable under EU rules. After the transitional period, importers will be required to acquire certificates corresponding to the carbon price applicable under EU rules.

Voluntary carbon labelling has been implemented in many countries and has proven highly successful in guiding businesses and citizens to recognise the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through smart production and consumption activities.

The PWC’s 2024 Voice of the Consumer Survey, which collected the perspectives of more than 20,000 consumers from over 30 countries and territories, indicated that consumers are willing to spend an average of 9.7 per cent more on sustainably produced or sourced goods, even as cost-of-living and inflationary concerns weigh.

The survey also suggested that more than 80 per cent of consumers said they are willing to pay more for sustainable produced or sourced goods. In terms of a price premium, some consumers are willing to pay on average 9.7 per cent more for goods that meet specific environmental criteria, including locally sourced, made from recycled or eco-friendly materials, produced in a supply chain with a lower carbon footprint, and more.

Sabine Durand-Hayes, global consumer markets leader of PwC France, said, “Consumers are increasingly feeling the squeeze of inflation and rising prices in essential goods such as groceries, however in that context, they are prioritising products that are sustainably produced and sourced. In the year ahead, companies must balance consumer affordability and environmental impact if they are to source and retain consumers.”

Around the world, many businesses have adopted carbon labelling and reaped significant benefits. In Japan, companies like Panasonic and Sony implemented this work for electronic products, boosting sales by meeting the demands of environmentally conscious consumers. Similarly, in Europe, major retailers such as Tesco and Marks & Spencer have applied carbon labelling to food products, enhancing brand image.

SIVAKUMAR Balasankari, consulting team leader NIRAS A/S Company

Carbon labelling is implemented in several markets around the world, such as the United States, EU, China, and Thailand. These labels combine CO2 measured labels, reduce packaging, and are carbon-neutral, with eco-labelling for food and drink products.

In France, the government has been experimenting with several schemes and passed a law for environmental labelling, meanwhile, in the US, a group of multinational corporations established a sustainability consortium to help suppliers to measure and reduce their environmental impact.

There are also private operators of carbon labelling schemes. For example, Walmart teamed up with the carbon disclosure project to require its suppliers to disclose their carbon emissions. They do not capture carbon embedded in individual products, and use self-reported surveys. Besides this, Casino-French supermarket has a life-cycle-based carbon label on 26 of its own products. It utilises a methodology developed by environmental consultancy Bio Intelligence.

These examples show that carbon labelling enhances transparency in product emissions and promotes sustainable consumption. Various international standards ensure credibility and consistency in carbon footprint assessments.

With different countries implementing voluntary and regulatory schemes tailored to their industries and environmental goals, stakeholder engagement, including government agencies, businesses, and consumers, is crucial for successful adoption.

I think that a well-balanced eco-labelling scheme must provide value exceeding costs to ensure long-term participation.

Dao Doan Duy, environmental safety and sustainability specialist PetroVietnam

The group is expanding low-emission energy sources by increasing the gas-to-oil production ratio, developing gas-to-power chains (Block B of the O Mon project) and importing liquefied natural gas to ensure gas supply for power generation (Nhon Trach 3-4).

In addition, the group also conducts carbon capture and storage by utilising depleted oil and gas fields, capturing CO2 from hard-to-abate sectors and developing hydrogen projects.

PetroVietnam also develops guideline documents for emission reduction in the oil and gas sector, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, and monitoring, reporting, and verification for emission reduction, among others.

The group also conducts research on emission reduction roadmaps, carbon market participation potential, carbon footprint calculation, CO2 absorption from afforestation, methane emission reduction, and more.

We face several challenges during the process of implementing emission reduction solutions. For example, the auditing and certification of GHG inventory data are still struggling due to large enterprise scale, complex ownership structure, and diverse industries. Besides that, for complex emission sources that are difficult to measure, such as leaks and cold venting. Calculation data also still relies on estimates.

Thus, we see that to ensure authenticity and accuracy, emission reduction solutions must be accompanied by methodologies and calculation approaches for absorption quantification in collaboration with monitoring measures for CO2 absorption and leakage.

Furthermore, the management of emission and fuel consumption data needs to be continuously upgraded and ensured for consistency to monitor data in real-time enhance management oversight efficiency, and simultaneously improve calculation and forecasting capabilities through AI integration.

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Bac Giang International Logistics Centre launched

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Bac Giang International Logistics Centre was launched on April 22 with an investment of $168 million, and is expected to become a crucial link in the global supply chain.

Bac Giang International Logistics Centre launched
Bac Giang International Logistics Centre launch

Being invested by CNCTech Group, Dolphin Sea Air Services Corporation and Thien An Investment JSC, the logistics centre is located on National Highway 1A, which boasts first-class warehouse supply to meet the growing demand in the northern Vietnamese market.

Its strategic position within the golden economic triangle of Hanoi – Haiphong – Quang Ninh provides convenient connectivity to industrial zones and key logistics centres via national highways No.1A and No.37.

The centre is designed to meet growing demand for logistics infrastructure from businesses in Bac Giang and neighbouring provinces, positioning the area as a new node in northern Vietnam’s logistics network.

The project is a strategic product as a key component of the logistics spearhead in CNCTech Group’s industrial and logistics infrastructure ecosystem. It has been approved by the prime minister as a national level-II logistics centre, covering a planned area of 67 hectares.

At the launch ceremony, Chairman of Bac Giang People’s Committee Nguyen Viet Oanh said, “In recent years, the province’s socioeconomic development has made remarkable strides. Transportation, urban, industrial, and social infrastructure have been synchronously invested in and have yielded high efficiency. However, the province’s logistics service sector has not yet matched its potential, advantages, and socioeconomic development level. The logistics system remains fragmented, transportation costs are high, and trade delivery times are prolonged.”

Recognising this bottleneck, the local authorities have focused on directing the robust development of the logistics system, incorporating it into the provincial plan. This includes developing eight comprehensive logistics centres covering nearly 500ha, three inland container depots, and 33 inland waterway ports.

“Bac Giang, with its strategic location between Hanoi and border provinces, has long been known as a dynamic industrial hub. The remarkable development of the province’s industrial parks has created a solid foundation for the establishment of Bac Giang International Logistics Centre. This centre is not only located on vital transportation routes such as Hanoi-Lang Son Expressway but also directly connects to major border gates, optimising the transport of goods from Bac Giang to the world,” said Oanh.

Bac Giang International Logistics Centre launched
A model of the logistics centre

The project is not merely a warehousing facility, but also a symbol of the integration of modern infrastructure and advanced technology. The centre includes multifunctional warehouse areas, customs-controlled warehouses, non-tariff warehouses, and automated warehouses, meeting the needs of various industries. Notably, it integrates end-to-end logistics solutions, supporting businesses in optimising transportation costs and enhancing production efficiency.

With a long-term vision, the centre aims not only to optimise domestic supply chains but also to become a key connection point in the global logistics network.

Nguyen Van Hung, chairman of the Board of Members of CNC Tech Group, shared, “The establishment of this centre is a strategic step in developing Vietnam’s logistics infrastructure. We are committed to long-term and robust investment in this sector, as logistics is not just infrastructure but an indispensable part of enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses on the international stage.”

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Green engagement rides high in Vietnam

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Vietnam has taken strong action to promote green development among businesses, amid the country facing challenges in finance and technology.

Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam told the fourth Summit of the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G), organised last week in Hanoi, that Vietnam is focused on strategic breakthroughs to prepare for a national development process that is fast, inclusive, and sustainable.

Green engagement rides high in Vietnam
The summit in Hanoi covered areas from finance and banking to agriculture and technology Photo: Dung Minh

“We will strongly transform political commitments into practical actions, creating motivation for businesses and the whole society to participate in sustainable economic development, in which green institutions are the decisive foundation,” General Secretary Lam stressed at a hall attended by government leaders, UN representatives, diplomats, experts, and entrepreneurs.

General Secretary Lam also stressed that when it comes to green transformation, despite being a developing country with a transitional economy and limited resources, Vietnam has achieved some important results.

Besides making a 2050 net-zero commitment in 2021, Vietnam also endorsed six global initiatives at the time, on forest and land use, methane, clean power transition, sustainable food and agriculture, and more.

“Vietnam is now a leading country in supplying renewable energy in ASEAN, with wind and solar power capacity accounting for two-thirds of ASEAN’s total capacity,” he said.

“Additionally, Vietnam is also a good example of encouraging sustainable agriculture. The initiative to develop one million hectares of high-quality and low-emission specialised rice is a pioneering model that many partners and international organisations are interested in.”

A greener future

Vietnam is an active and responsible member of all multilateral mechanisms and major initiatives on green growth and energy transition such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Just Energy Transition Partnership, and the P4G.

“However, as a developing country with a transitional economy, we also face many challenges in terms of financial resources, technology, personnel, and resilience to the impacts of climate change and geopolitical fluctuations globally,” said General Secretary Lam.

The summit adopted the Hanoi Declaration, strongly affirming commitments to sustainable growth with people at the centre, and a determination to collaborate responsibly in addressing current global challenges. Vietnam is expected to enjoy continued support from the international community in its journey to a green economy including energy transition.

According to the World Bank, to ensure sufficient funding for responding to climate change, mobilising domestic finance is possible, but external support is needed.

Overall, Vietnam’s total incremental financing needs for the resilient and decarbonising pathways could reach $368 billion over 2022–2040, or approximately 6.8 per cent of GDP per year.

The resilient pathway alone will account for about two-thirds of this amount, as substantial financing will be required to protect the country’s assets and infrastructure as well as vulnerable people.

The cost of the decarbonising pathway will mainly arise from the energy sector – investments in renewables and managing the transition away from coal might cost around $64 billion between 2022 and 2040. All the figures are in net present value terms at a discount rate of 6 per cent.

This $368 billion in financing needs will include $184 billion from private investments or about 3.4 per cent of GDP annually, $130 billion or about 2.4 per cent of GDP annually from the state budget; and $54 billion or about 1 per cent of GDP per year from external sources.

Choi Youngsam, South Korean Ambassador to Vietnam, said that within the P4G framework, South Korea and Vietnam have completed or are currently implementing joint projects in areas such as food and agriculture, energy, water, and urban development.

“Looking ahead, both sides are expected to broaden and deepen their partnership under the P4G framework,” he said.

At the P4G Summit held in Seoul in May 2021, the two governments signed the Framework Agreement on Cooperation in Response to Climate Change, laying a solid policy foundation for the implementation of international emissions reduction ventures.

“On this basis, I hope that South Korea will leverage its technological expertise and financial resources to carry out greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in Vietnam, with both countries mutually recognising the results,” Ambassador Youngsam said.

“This would contribute to establishing a win-win model of emissions reduction cooperation. At the same time, I look forward to seeing active engagement from South Korean enterprises possessing green technologies, in close collaboration with the Vietnamese government.”

Encouraging developments

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Minh said at a policy dialogue on the sidelines of the P4G 2025 that the active participation and strong cooperation from stakeholders – from the public and private sectors to international organisations – can help materialise Vietnam’s aspiration of an efficient and sustainable innovative startup ecosystem.

“Innovation, creative entrepreneurship and collaboration are key to solving environmental problems, while encouraging the development of a circular economy,” he said.

Vietnam currently has over 4,000 innovative startups, including two unicorns valued at over $1 billion, 11 companies valued at over $100 million, more than 1,400 startup support organisations, 202 co-working spaces, 208 investment funds, and 35 business promotion organisations. Among these, it is estimated that around 200–300 companies focus on green transition, covering areas such as renewable energy, environmental technology, sustainable agriculture, and the circular economy.

According to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosting the fourth P4G Conference is of great significance to Vietnam. It is aimed to boost its role as a good friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of P4G and the international community. Moreover, it is also aimed to reaffirm its commitment to sustainable development, energy transition, and the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. Besides that, it is aimed at contributing to raising awareness of international cooperation and encouraging the role and voice of developing countries in the sector of green growth and sustainable development.

Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister

For Vietnam, together with digital transformation, we identify green transition as an objective necessity, a key factor, and a breakthrough driving force to promote rapid growth and sustainable development. This aligns with the strategic goal of becoming a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income by 2030, and a developed, high-income country by 2045, while also contributing to the gradual realisation of Vietnam’s commitment at COP26 to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

From practical experience with initial positive results, especially in renewable energy, green agricultural development, and participation in multilateral mechanisms and initiatives on green transformation, as the host of the fourth P4G Summit, Vietnam has three suggestions for discussions which pave the way for further cooperation in the coming time.

First is to perfect green mindset, with a focus placed on the development of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation linked to green growth. This includes recognising that green resources stem from green thinking, green growth is driven by green transition, and green resources arises from the green awareness of people and businesses in nations and regions throughout the world.

Second is to build a responsible green community, in which, the government plays a guiding role, encouraging, and ensuring a stable and favourable institutional environment for green growth. The private sector functions as a core investor into technological development and the dissemination of green standards. The scientific community take the lead in developing green technologies and training green human resources. Meanwhile, citizens continuously enhance their green awareness, truly becoming beneficiaries of the outcomes of green transformation.

Thirdly, it is necessary to promote international cooperation and robust multilateral green cooperation models, particularly public-private partnerships, South-South cooperation, North-South cooperation, and multilateral cooperation frameworks. This is aimed at removing institutional barriers, enhancing access, and speeding up the flow of green capital, green technology, and green governance.

Developed countries should take the lead in fulfilling commitments to provide financial, technological, and institutional reform support. Meanwhile, developing countries would need to leverage their internal strengths and effectively utilise external resources.

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Public-private partnerships a lever for greener innovation

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Public-private partnerships are no longer a supporting mechanism, but a strategic pillar in the global pursuit of the green transition.

The high-level dialogue between government leaders and businesses at the 2025 P4G Vietnam Summit last week, chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, brought together senior officials, global experts, international organisations, and private sector leaders.

They recognised that the climate crisis, digital transformation, and resource depletion are converging in ways that demand not only innovation, but deep and long-term collaboration between the public and private sectors.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed acknowledged Vietnam’s leadership in renewable energy, noting its potential to attract trillions in sustainable investment.

“Emerging economies must accelerate the adoption of new investment models, particularly those that align private capital with green infrastructure priorities. Governments must work with the private sector to expand ambition, strengthen accountability, and deliver real impact,” she said.

From Italy, Prime Minister’s Climate Envoy Francesco Corvaro stressed that public-private partnerships (PPPs) are indispensable in addressing climate finance gaps. Drawing from Italy’s experience, he underscored the importance of public investment as a risk mitigator, enabling private sector participation in clean energy and smart infrastructure projects.

“Public investment can unlock private capital, but local authorities must lead with clear priorities and long-term vision,” Corvaro noted. “You can’t talk about renewables, AI, or digital infrastructure without modern, resilient grids, and that requires strong public-private alignment.” he said

Alejandro Dorado, Spain’s High Commissioner for Circular Economy, argued that the case for stronger PPPs lies at the intersection of two accelerating forces: the environmental-climate crisis and a wave of disruptive technologies.

“In a world where AI, green technologies, and digitalisation are reshaping the global economy, the clock is ticking. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, we have less than a decade to prevent irreversible climate disaster. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum has identified biodiversity loss as one of the most severe economic risks,” he said.

Public-private partnerships a lever for greener innovation

Dorado added that while multilateralism is being questioned or weakened in some quarters, the need for cooperation has never been more urgent – both to solve environmental challenges and to harness the transformative potential of innovation.

“No government or business can tackle these crises alone. Public authorities must provide the regulatory frameworks, fiscal incentives, and infrastructure deployment needed at scale to safeguard the common good,” he stressed.

From the business side, Stuart Livesey, country representative of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), provided a frank but optimistic outlook. Livesey stated CIP’s commitment to supporting Vietnam’s transition, but emphasised the need for enabling conditions.

“What we seek are clear, bankable projects underpinned by stable regulatory frameworks, collaborating with strong local partnerships. This is where public-private cooperation becomes not just helpful, but essential,” Livesey noted. “Over the next 10-15 years, the offshore wind sector and green energy consumers will trigger massive demand for new technologies, digital solutions, and skilled labour.”

To meet this demand, CIP is investing not only in infrastructure, but also in capacity building, research and development, and local supply chain development through partnerships with Vietnamese universities.

Still, he acknowledged barriers. “Technological application and innovation in green projects face challenges, from long-term financing constraints and skilled labour shortages to fragmented policy signals. These are not unique to Vietnam, but they require proactive, tailored local solutions,” he said. “Addressing issues such as grid availability, regulatory clarity, and inter-ministerial coordination will be critical.”

Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, stated that the banking sector is ready to facilitate green finance, particularly in sectors aligned with national climate targets.

“We see ourselves as a bridge between global capital and local sustainability goals. The clearer the pipeline of bankable, climate-aligned projects, the faster we can move capital,” he noted. “What’s crucial now is consistency in policy and coordination among stakeholders to ensure these projects reach maturity.”

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