A certification ceremony for ISO 14064-1:2018 and ISO 14067:2018 standards regarding greenhouse gas inventory auditing for the Hoa Sen Group’s steel products took place on October 24 at the Hoa Sen Phu My Steel Sheet Plant in Phu My town, southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

It marked a significant milestone in the Hoa Sen Group’s sustainable development journey, reflecting its awareness of environmental responsibility and compliance with legal regulations concerning environmental protection.

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 carbon footprint on 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 the carbon emissions of a product.

Recognizing the pivotal role and significant importance of greenhouse gas inventory auditing, the Hoa Sen Group has taken proactive measures to provide operational data and relevant information for 2023 auditing. By complying with current regulations, actively conducting audits, establishing emissions quantification reports, and aiming towards greenhouse gas elimination, the Group is undertaking crucial steps to enhance and manage greenhouse gas emissions at its coated steel production plants nationwide. This proactive effort signifies the successful implementation of carbon footprint tracking for the Group’s steel products.

The certification ceremony saw the participation of representatives from leading global certification and inspection organizations. Notably, BSI Vietnam, the foremost international certification organization based in the UK, was in attendance. Representatives from Bureau Veritas Vietnam, a company headquartered in Paris, France, with a network spanning over 140 countries worldwide, also took part in the ceremony.

The Hoa Sen Group has completed greenhouse gas inventory auditing at three steel production plants: the Hoa Sen Phu My Steel Sheet Plant, the Hoa Sen Nghe An Plant at the Dong Hoi Industrial Park, and Hoa Sen Nhon Hoi - Binh Dinh Plant. The Group met all requirements and obtained certification for ISO 14064-1:2018 on greenhouse gas inventory auditing. It has also completed the carbon footprint tracking for nearly 20 product lines of Hoa Sen steel according to ISO 14067:2018, initially fulfilling certain prerequisites for exporting goods to the European market under Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulations, which are effective from October.

Mr. Doan Van Khai, a representative of BSI Vietnam, said that securing ISO 14064-1:2018 certification demonstrates a clear commitment to controlling and reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the path towards carbon neutrality. With this milestone, BSI Vietnam believes that Hoa Sen will reach other milestones along its sustainable development journey.

In her speech at the ceremony, Ms. Luu Thi Mai Huong from Bureau Veritas Vietnam - the certification body for manufacturing plants under the Hoa Sen Group - highly praised the efforts of the Group in completing carbon footprint tracking at three manufacturing plants with 20 product lines of Hoa Sen Steel products. She also affirmed that Hoa Sen 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 to calculate and continue to meet international standards for export to demanding markets such as Europe.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Phuc, Deputy General Director in Charge of Production at the Hoa Sen Group, said that the collection of data and quantification of greenhouse gas emissions are of great importance to the Group, showcasing its commitment to the environment.

“By adhering to sustainable development regulations, the Hoa Sen Group will continue to implement plans for the periodic monitoring, reporting, and auditing of greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr. Phuc said. “This marks an initial success for Hoa Sen Group in proactively updating and implementing solutions to meet new requirements and pave the way for broader exports of Hoa Sen Steel products to the European market in the future.”

The attainment of ISO 14064-1:2018 and ISO 14067:2018 standards highlights the proactive efforts and commitment of the Hoa Sen Group in taking steps to identify areas for improvement, thereby limiting carbon emissions and subsequently reducing greenhouse gas emissions in compliance with legal requirements.

This initiative aims at cost reductions through efficient energy use while ensuring compliance with domestic and international laws. The Hoa Sen Group is working towards fulfilling the Vietnamese Government’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, as announced by the Prime Minister at the COP26 climate conference in the UK in 2021. It also underscores its responsibility in combating climate change, protecting the environment, and fostering sustainable economic development.