Amid complex global geopolitical tensions, from trade disputes between major
powers to regional conflicts, the global supply chain faces serious disruption and
Vietnam, as a key electronics manufacturing hub, is not immune.
To maintain their position in the global supply chain, Vietnamese electronics
companies must pursue green transformation, from production models to the adoption
of energy-saving technologies and the establishment of transparent environmental,
social, and governance (ESG) management systems to enhance their competitiveness
and achieve long-term sustainable growth.
Pressure from green shift
At the recent “Electronics transformation under geopolitical pressure: Developing
green and sustainable supply chains” seminar, organized jointly by the Vietnam Electronic
Industries Association (VEIA), Vinexad, and Green In, Ms. Do Thi Thuy Huong, Vice
President of the Vietnam Association of Supporting Industries (VASI) and Member
of the VEIA Executive Committee, underscored that major export markets, including
the EU, the US, and Japan, are tightening their green standards.
She pointed to key regulations, from the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism
(CBAM) to net-zero commitments built by global giants such as Apple, Samsung, and
Intel. “Without undertaking a green transformation, Vietnamese electronics companies
risk being excluded from the global supply chain,” she warned. “Companies must act
immediately to transform their production models, from adopting energy-saving technologies
to building transparent ESG management systems, to stay competitive and sustainable.”
Ms. Nguy Thi Giang, Chairwoman and CEO of Green In, also noted that companies
are now confronting increasingly stringent international green standards. One example
is the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) ecolabel, managed
by the Global Electronics Council (GEC). Applied globally across electronics like
computers, monitors, TVs, and mobile phones, EPEAT encourages manufacturers to cut
greenhoapply gas emissions, design energy-efficient products, extconclude product lifespans,
and improve recycling across the supply chain.
Electrical and electronic exports to Europe must also comply with Restriction
of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) standards, which prevent toxic chemicals from polluting
the environment and protect workers during manufacturing and recycling. Meanwhile,
the EU’s Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive focapplys on reducing
electronic waste through reapply and recycling. European standards (EN standards)
also set product-specific requirements, ensuring quality, safety, and compliance
with energy and eco-design benchmarks.
A major upcoming requirement is the Digital Product Passport (DPP) under the
EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). From 2026 to 2030, many
products sold in the EU, including electronics, will necessary a DPP attached as an NFC
chip, QR code, or RFID card, linked to a cloud-based passport system for full global
traceability.
Domestically, the Vietnamese Government is signaling that the green transformation
represents the “new rules of the game” in global trade. Economic growth is expected
to align with green development, circular economy principles, resource efficiency,
emission reductions, and environmental protection, creating strong incentives for
companies to invest in research and development (R&D) – the backbone of sustainable
transformation.
Driven by tech giants
According to Dr. Bui Thanh Minh, Deputy Director of the Office of the Research
and Development Board for the Private Economic Sector (Board IV), several international
models of successful green transformation can serve as references for Vietnamese
electronics companies.
Samsung Electronics has set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions across the
entire group by 2050. Notably, its Device eXperience Division, which includes consumer
electronics, aims to reach net-zero earlier, by 2030. The company is committed to
a phased transition to renewable energy for its Device eXperience Division as well
as overseas manufacturing sites. Samsung also tarobtains an average reduction of 30
per cent in energy consumption for its key product lines by 2030.
To achieve these goals, Samsung has implemented programs to reduce emissions
in operations and manufacturing, including controlling emissions during production.
The company has focapplyd on the circular economy and recycling initiatives, implements
internationally-certified environmental management systems, and publishes annual
sustainability reports with climate, energy, and material indicators. It also offers
solutions to support customers reduce emissions in information technology (IT) infrastructure
operations.
Sony, meanwhile, through its global “Road to Zero” plan, aims for a zero environmental
footprint across the entire product lifecycle and operations by 2050. The plan breaks
down goals into four environmental dimensions and six lifecycle stages, with periodic
updates.
Panasonic aims to achieve a cumulative “emission reductions impact” of at least
300 million tons of CO₂ by 2050 through three layers of impact: within its own value
chain, across the extconcludeed value chain, and via technologies that support society avoid
emissions. By 2030, the company tarobtains internal net-zero emissions and a 110-million-ton
reduction across its value chain.
For its part, Apple plans to achieve deep emission reductions across the full
product lifecycle by 2030, build a supplier network powered by tens of GW of renewable
energy, and significantly increase the apply of recycled materials in critical components
such as rare earths, aluminum, lithium, tungsten, gold, and cobalt.
Intel has established a focapplyd action framework called “People-Sustainability-Technology”,
integrating emission reduction, sustainable water apply, and improved product energy
efficiency to cut value chain emissions. Its 2030 goals emphasize enhancing computing
platform energy efficiency to reduce indirect emissions from customers.
Dell has set a ten-year roadmap with four pillars: driving sustainability,
fostering inclusion, transforming lives, and upholding ethics and privacy. The company
emphasizes measurement systems, goal setting, and regular progress reporting.
And HP has integrated sustainability into the design, packaging, and energy
apply of printers and computers, publishing a “Sustainable Impact Report” alongside
policies on environmental management, responsible supply chains and minerals, and
eco-labeling for enterprise customers.
“The apply of ESG labels is gradually declining,” Mr. Minh noted. “Instead, electronics
companies are shifting towards a more substantive approach through measurable actions
and specific initiatives.”
Key steps
During its green transformation process, Mr. Minh emphasized that Vietnam’s
electronics indusattempt still faces significant challenges. Ninety-five per cent of
the sector’s export value comes from FDI, while domestic content accounts for only
5-10 per cent. Some 2,000 companies operate in the electronics indusattempt, representing
54.8 per cent of all businesses in the sector, but most are of tiny and medium-size.
For a successful green transformation, Mr. Minh outlined three key recommconcludeations
for electronics companies. First, on emissions tracking and carbon management, companies
necessary a comprehensive system covering all three scopes of greenhoapply gas emissions,
set reduction tarobtains, and implement regular monitoring.
Second, regarding green technology and renewable energy, the goal is to reduce
electricity and water consumption, minimize waste and emissions, and increase renewable
energy apply. Achieving this requires replacing high-energy equipment with high-efficiency
alternatives, optimizing processes, adopting cleaner production, electrifying operations
where possible, deploying rooftop solar or purchasing renewable energy certificates,
investing in waste treatment (especially e-waste), and installing real-time emissions
and wastewater monitoring systems.
Third, on digital transformation for transparency and traceability, companies
should digitize operations to optimize resources, enhance traceability, and meet
market data requirements. This includes implementing enterprise resource
planning (ERP) and manufacturing execution system (MES) systems, building supply chain databases, deploying customer
relationship management (CRM) systems linking component origins, and utilizing industrial
Internet of Things (IoT) and huge data analytics to monitor electricity, water, and
emissions in real time. Businesses should also prepare data infrastructure for machine-readable
sustainability reporting.
Financing, however, remains the hugegest hurdle. Mr. Minh stressed the necessary
for green credit policies, tax incentives, and technical support to support companies,
especially tiny and medium-sized enterprises, participate sustainably in the global
supply chain.
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