Heineken Vietnam's journey in implementing the 'water conservation' project

Heineken Vietnam has sustained a project for over a decade, providing clean water to 15,000 people, creating economic value for hundreds of households, and conserving water in multiple regions.

The most notable initiative, demonstrating the commitment "For a Better Vietnam", is the pursuit of a 'water positive' (water replenishment) goal in water-stressed areas by 2030. According to the company, this new direction requires them to return to nature the entire volume of water used in its products and evaporated during production.

In late December 2025, Heineken Vietnam's water conservation project won in the 'Sustainable Project' category at the Human Act Prize 2025 for the Community. The program, themed "Persistent Service for the Community", honors projects with long-term commitments that create positive, lasting impacts for society. This award recognizes the company's 13 years of sustained operations in various regions.

According to Heineken, the water conservation project represents the company's community and environmental efforts within its sustainable development strategy. With a comprehensive approach, ranging from protecting river basins to enhancing livelihoods and access to clean water for residents, the project creates practical value.

A significant achievement after many years of implementation is the company's completion of water replenishment in the Tien River basin 5 years ahead of schedule. Specifically, the enterprise has returned over 690 million liters of water to nature annually. This figure includes 559,44 million liters from ecological conservation activities and 131,52 million liters from community clean water projects.

A company representative stated that conservation activities aim for water replenishment, while also focusing on improving livelihoods and restoring ecosystems connected to people's lives.

Heineken Vietnam initiated the project in 2012, starting with accessible actions. The "1 Minute for a Million Joys" program launched with the goal of encouraging the community to conserve and use small actions to bring clean water to water-scarce areas.

For every 100,000 recorded water protection and conservation actions, the project sponsors one clean water facility for the community. As a result, the program has delivered 25 clean water facilities across various provinces and cities, helping over 15,000 people access safe water sources. From drilled wells and water filtration systems to desalination plants, clean water is gradually becoming available in rural and remote areas.

Local residents have seen economic improvement by participating in reforestation and forest management activities. Heineken also provides training in water management, conservation, and biodiversity within the conservation areas.

To date, the project has contributed to planting and nurturing over 1,100 hectares of forests and native trees. Numerous water-saving agricultural models have been implemented, helping some households reduce irrigation water use by up to 70%, thereby enhancing climate change adaptation capabilities.

In the Red River basin, the company has planted 10 hectares and nurtured 400 hectares of forest.

In Dong Nai, nearly 4,000 households received water conservation guidebooks. The company also provided guidance on applying native microorganisms and distributed water purification tablets to thousands of residents.

According to the company representative, water conservation can be highly effective when policy, science, and practical action are closely linked. "This multi-stakeholder cooperation model offers practical suggestions for many businesses to participate, collaborating with the state and community towards long-term sustainable development", a company representative said.

The company announced it will continue to expand the project in the next phase, contributing to the enterprise's sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life and water security for the nation.