Nguyễn Minh Phúc, Deputy General Director in charge of Production at Hoa Sen Group, receiving ISO 14067:2018 certification from the representative of Bureau Veritas Vietnam. — Photo courtesy of the firm

Hoa Sen Group on Tuesday officially received certification for ISO 14064-1:2018 and ISO 14067:2018 standards regarding greenhouse gas inventory auditing, marking a significant milestone in its sustainable development journey and reflecting its awareness of environmental responsibility and compliance with legal regulations.

The ISO 14064-1 standard serves as the basis for calculating the greenhouse gas emissions of a business. The initial version, ISO 14064-1:2006, was released in March 2006 and was updated to ISO 14064-1:2018 in December 2018. The ISO 14067:2018 standard, certifying the carbon footprint of products under the ISO 14000 environmental standards, is considered a reference standard for reporting the carbon footprint of products. It establishes principles, requirements, and guidelines for quantifying a product's carbon emissions.

Accordingly, Hoa Sen Group has completed the greenhouse gas inventory auditing at three steel production plants: Hoa Sen Phú Mỹ Steel Sheet Plant, Hoa Sen Nghệ An Plant in Đông Hội Industrial Park, and Hoa Sen Nhơn Hội – Bình Định Plant. It has also completed the carbon footprint tracking for nearly 20 product lines of Hoa Sen Steel according to ISO 14067:2018, thereby fulfilling certain prerequisites for exporting goods to the European market under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulations, effective from October 2023.

Đoàn Văn Khải, a representative from BSI Vietnam, stated that obtaining ISO 14064-1:2018 certification demonstrates a clear commitment by Hoa Sen Group to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their path towards carbon neutrality. With this achievement, BSI Vietnam believes that Hoa Sen Group will attain further milestones in its sustainable development journey.

Lưu Thị Mai Hương, the representative of Bureau Veritas Vietnam - the certification organisation, said: “Hoa Sen Group is the first in its industry to achieve the carbon footprint tracking standard on a product unit basis. With the strong commitments and collective efforts of the entire Hoa Sen Group, Bureau Veritas Vietnam believes that the ISO 14067:2018 certification will serve as the initial foundation for calculating and continuing to meet international standards for export to demanding markets such as the European market.”

Nguyễn Minh Phúc, Deputy General Director in charge of Production at Hoa Sen Group, mentionedL “The collection of data and quantification of greenhouse gas emissions are of paramount importance to Hoa Sen Group, highlighting the group's dedication to the environment. By adhering to sustainable development regulations, Hoa Sen will persist in implementing plans for periodic monitoring, reporting, and auditing of greenhouse gas emissions.”

This initiative aims at cost reduction through efficient energy usage while ensuring compliance with domestic and international laws. Hoa Sen Group is endeavouring to fulfil the Vietnamese Government's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, as announced by Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính at the COP26 climate conference. This underscores the group's responsibility in combating climate change, safeguarding the environment, and promoting sustainable economic development. — VNS