Vietnamese cement gains international environmental certification

SCG Vietnam has achieved a significant milestone in its sustainability journey with the official international Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certification for all 19 key cement products in Vietnam. This certification not only strengthens SCG’s competitive edge but also affirms the company’s compliance with rigorous international standards, including BSEN (certified by the British Standards Institution) and ASTM (certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials). It paves the way for expanded access to high-demand markets such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. This achievement is a testament to SCG’s unwavering pursuit of its Inclusive Green Growth Strategy, which focuses on technological optimization, carbon reduction, and product lifecycle transparency to drive the green transformation of the building materials sector.

As urbanization accelerates and Vietnam targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, the demand for eco-friendly and energy-efficient building materials has become more pressing than ever. In this context, the international Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) serves as a critical tool for disclosing the environmental impact of products. Based on the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, EPD evaluates a product’s environmental footprint throughout its lifecycle - from raw material extraction and production to transportation, use, and disposal. This information is independently verified by a third party, ensuring transparency and reliability. Within the construction sector, EPD certifications are key for developers, partners, and markets to identify sustainable materials suitable for international green building standards.

Recognizing the growing demand for sustainable building materials, SCG has proactively integrated green criteria into its cement production value chain in Vietnam. A clear example of this effort is the EPD certification across all core cement products - reinforcing SCG’s transparency and commitment to supporting the construction industry’s journey toward net-zero emissions.

To meet high standards of EPD certification, SCG has implemented a comprehensive range of environmental protection and carbon reduction measures across its operations. Its cement plants have been equipped with advanced technology to optimize operational efficiency and lower environmental footprints. Notably, one of key initiatives is the Waste Heat Recovery system, in place since 2014, which captures approximately 30% of the heat generated during production and converts it into electricity. This system helps save around 60 million kWh of electricity annually - equivalent to a reduction of 33,807 tons of CO₂ compared to using conventional power sources.. In addition, SCG’s plants have increased the use of biomass to replace coal in the clinker firing process, achieving a 30% substitution rate. 

This helps reduce the consumption of about 90,000 tons of coal per year, translating to an emission cut of approximately 157,715 tons of CO2. The adoption of high-quality clinker materials combined with advanced blending technologies also enhances production efficiency and further lowers CO2 emissions by an estimated 141,575 tons per year. These innovations reduce carbon emissions by up to 20% compared to conventional cement products. In fact, each ton of cement produced can reduce CO₂ emissions equivalent to the annual absorption of 12 fully grown trees.

The full EPD certification across SCG’s core cement products is not only a strong declaration of environmental responsibility but also reaffirms the company’s leadership in sustainable materials, contributing to the construction of a greener future.