Central Retail Vietnam recently unveiled its 2025 report outlining the "Better for Vietnam" strategy, which aims to establish the company as a leader in sustainable retail by 2026.

Prioritizing environmental protection, the company is transitioning its private label products to eco-friendly packaging. This initiative reduces plastic waste and encourages green consumption. Products undergo strict quality control, ensuring safety and fair prices, making sustainable options more accessible to consumers.

Central Retail Vietnam installs solar panel systems at GO! shopping malls. Photo: Central Retail Vietnam

Additionally, Central Retail Vietnam was an early adopter of a single-use plastic reduction roadmap, transitioning from nylon bags at checkout to biodegradable packaging, despite the higher investment. By prioritizing eco-friendly materials and engaging both suppliers and customers, the company helps reduce plastic waste and foster a circular retail model in Vietnam.

Beyond packaging and green consumption, Central Retail Vietnam extends its sustainable approach to infrastructure investment. All new shopping malls developed by the company aim for EDGE green building certification, issued by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank Group member. This standard ensures projects consume less energy, water, and materials, while enhancing the shopping environment for customers.

Central Retail, together with partner P&G Vietnam, organizes the "Forests for Good - For you, planting a green Vietnam" campaign. Photo: Central Retail Vietnam

Furthermore, Central Retail Vietnam has installed solar panel systems at 32 GO! shopping malls, generating clean energy and reducing emissions. The company also placed 78 reverse vending machines (RVMs) across 44 GO! shopping malls and supermarkets. These RVMs enable customers to return plastic bottles and cans for shopping discounts. This initiative encourages daily recycling, diverting waste from landfills.

In recent years, Central Retail Vietnam, alongside partner P&G Vietnam, launched the "Forests for Good – For you, planting a green Vietnam" campaign. As part of this, in September 2025, the company collaborated with P&G and Gaia Nature Conservation Center to host a "Forest Planting Day" at Ta Kou Nature Reserve in Lam Dong province. They collectively planted 1,000 new trees, bringing the national total to over 35,000. This initiative marks a commitment to national forest restoration goals, biodiversity protection, and local community support.

Handover ceremony for educational facilities at Dai Son Primary School (Khanh Hoa) within the framework of the "One mall one school" program. Photo: Central Retail Vietnam

Beyond its business operations, Central Retail Vietnam launched the "One mall one school" project, pledging that each new GO! Mall development would include an associated educational initiative to foster sustainable social development. In 2025, the company delivered two educational facilities to Dong Hai Primary School in Vinh Hau commune, Ca Mau province, and Dai Son Primary School in Phan Rang ward, Khanh Hoa province, advancing its goal of improving local learning environments. To date, the company has contributed over 12,8 billion VND to 15 schools, benefiting 8,712 students through enhanced school facilities.

Driven by a desire to share joy with disadvantaged communities, Central Retail Vietnam also organizes several annual charitable programs. The "Tet Nhan Ai" initiative, planned for Tet Nguyen Dan 2026, will distribute 5,300 Tet gifts totaling 1,07 billion VND. Other efforts include building charity homes and sponsoring the Central Vietnam Red Cross Society to construct four new semi-boarding kitchens in Nghe An, Dien Bien, Dak Lak, and Quang Tri provinces.

"Central Retail Vietnam Group is pleased with the milestones achieved and remains committed to contributing to Vietnam's sustainable development," stated Olivier Langlet, Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that by working together, we can build a green, sustainable future for generations to come."

By Hai My