Sony's staff is planting trees. Photo: nhadattphcm

The Ho Chi Minh City authorities on June 14 launched the second Green Enterprises competition to promote environmental awareness among businesses.

"Environmental protection is important in many major markets, such as Europe, America and Asia. The Green Enterprises award will help businesses increase their exports as well," Nguyen Van Chien, Vice Director of the city's Natural Resources and Environment Department, said in his opening speech of the launch ceremony.

Competition organisers include the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Science and Technology, the HCM City Entrepreneurs Association and Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon) Newspaper.

The award honours those companies that have taken effective measures to protect the environment. Awardees will be selected as models for other businesses.

The awardees will be allowed to use the Green Enterprises logo on their products and company information for no more than three years. After that, they must enter competition again, Chien said.

“This locally-awarded certificate, or ‘green enterprise’ logo, will be considered the key to pass the green barrier of the WTO," Chien added.

Last year, only factories and companies were allowed to enter the competition, but this year the competition is open to industrial, processing and production zones as well.

There will be a total of 10 awards, with total prize money worth 165 million VND (10,000 USD). Several extra awards of 10 million VND (600 USD) each will also be given.

If any of the awardees are fined for environmental protection violations, its use of the green logo will be withdrawn.

To be eligible for the competition, companies must have adequate waste water treatment and waste collection systems and must show evidence that they have separate solid waste facilities from their production lines as well as special storage areas to keep solid and hazardous waste.

They must also meet standards for fire, air quality, illumination, heat and noise.

Factories that use or produce chemicals must have special equipment on site in case of emergencies, such as unexpected chemical leaks.

In addition, checks for environmental protection must be regularly carried out, and companies must show that they have a waste management policy and use recycled products.

Eligible companies must also have an ISO 14001 certificate for environmental management.

“They should take part in and actively contribute to raising the community's awareness about environmental protection as well," Chien said.

Source: VNA