HÀ NỘI — La Vie is promoting a co-operation with the community and government to build a sustainable environment and water stewardship in the southern region of Việt Nam.

This move is part of Nestlé Waters’ commitment to implementing the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) program in its all factories, in which La Vie is an affiliate.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Mr. Marc Alary, Water & Environmental Sustainability Manager – Asia, Nestlé Waters said many countries are dealing with water issues such as drought, pollution and inequality in water access.

Representatives of La Vie, Nestlé Waters and the expert of Antea Group – the engineering and environmental consulting firm – at the press conference

Meanwhile, he said the demand for water for daily life, agricultural irrigation and industrial production is predicted to continue accelerating in the future.

“We pay attention to both corporate social responsibility (CSR) and creating shared values (CSV), but more focusing on CSV to improve surroundings of the factory. We have co-operation with community to reach a win-win situation,” Mr. Alary said.

“We have directly financed initiatives including transport safety and helping local households access fresh water sources,” he added.

According to a representative of La Vie, many people living in the area which La Vie Factory of Long An is located have been encouraged to close wells, avoiding polluting groundwater sources and using quality water. Some canals have been cleaned to provide water for farming and improve living environment of the community.

In 2019, nearly 300 households have access to municipal water supply thanks to the support of La Vie and Long An Water Supply Sewerage Joint Stock Company.

Water stewardship journey with AWS Standard

La Vie has invested in two natural mineral water factories, which are located in Long An and in the northern province of Hung Yen.

Mr Alary said the factory in Long An is the first one of La Vie and also the first one of Việt Nam to receive AWS certification early this year. The factory in Hung Yen is expected to reach the certification by 2020.

The AWS standard is a globally-applicable framework for major water users to understand their water use and impacts, and to work collaboratively and transparently for sustainable water management within a catchment context. The Standard is intended to drive social, environmental and economic benefits at the scale of a catchment.

“The goals of the AWS program include good water governance, sustainable water balance, good water quality, healthy status of important water-related areas, and safe water, sanitation and health for all”, Mr Alary said.

In order to achieve these goals, a co-operation of a wide range of stakeholders are needed, including government, businesses, local communities, and other stakeholders.

Water plants that apply AWS standards need to understand and identify challenges, opportunities and risks; set up specific action plans to address or minimise those risks and challenges for the plant's watershed, as well as seek opportunities for sustainable water development.

Plant manager of La Vie Natural Mineral Water Factory in Hung Yen, Mr. Nguyen Nhu Thien, said the factory in Long An has made improvements in the efficient use of water, including cost-saving initiatives within the watershed, effective application of a wastewater treatment system and environmental protection, and co-operation with partners to practice water saving in use.

“Under the AWS program, La Vie has achieved initial success in accompanying the authorities and the community in Long An Province to join hands in sustainable water management,” Thiện said.

“We have also strived to improve people's access to clean and safe water sources and support the community to protect surface water, shallow and deep groundwater in the area,” he added.

In recent years, prominent activities of the factory include collaboration with Long An Education College and Long An University of Economics and Industry to educate and organise water saving seminars for nearly 1,500 students and staff since 2017, and co-ordination with the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment to hold the World Water Day activities in Tan An City this year.

La Vie co-operates with Long An authorities to organise seminars on water management for its local people.

The La Vie Long An has also built two free fresh water supply stations serving the local community and contributed to dredging Thu Tuu and Chien Luoc canals, which were in a state of serious congestion, providing water for agriculture, improving people's living environment and reducing pollution.

La Vie officially became a member of Nestlé Waters in 1992. Over the past 27 years, La Vie natural mineral water company has been constantly striving to develop and provide the best products and services to customers. Besides business activities, La Vie always actively performs social responsibilities to the community.

Since 2010, Nestlé Waters has constantly improved packaging, minimised the weight of plastic bottles (down 9 per cent/litre compared to the past), minimising impact on the environment during transportation. To date, more than 15 factories around the world under Nestlé Waters have received AWS Standard certification.

On November 26, 2019, La Vie was named in top 100 sustainable businesses in Việt Nam – according to the ranking by The Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD) which is established by the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). It’s a recognition for the constant effort of La Vie to strive for the sustainable development.