Kim Le Huy, head of Country Leadership, DKSH Vietnam

Our sustainability strategy is developed collaboratively. All business units and relevant functions work together to identify priorities and translate them into actionable initiatives that are implemented across our organisation. This collective approach ensures alignment, ownership, and measurable progress towards our objectives

Besides being guided by the purpose of enriching people’s lives, our ambitions will enable our people to flourish, make our value chains more sustainable, help achieve net-zero emissions, and make a positive local impact.

At the group level, we ensure consistency through robust governance, transparent monitoring, and comprehensive global reporting frameworks. At the same time, local initiatives follow global directions while being tailored to meet market-specific needs. This dual approach, global consistency with local relevance, has proven for the governance and implementation of sustainability activities.

As a bridge-builder in the supply chain connecting international companies with local markets, we integrate sustainability into our operations through practical solutions. For example, in Vietnam we implement ISO14001 for environmental management and ISO45001 for occupational health and safety.

In our delivery operations, we have replaced bubble wrap with shredded cartons made from reused boxes, and we are exploring reusable, net-based pallet wrapping solutions to enhance durability and performance. This group-wide initiatives exemplify how small, thoughtful actions can generate significant impact, aligning closely with our corporate sustainability strategy.

Innovation is the engine that turns sustainability commitments into measurable outcomes. We consistently rethink how services are delivered and how value is created, ensuring that our business model aligns with circular economy principles, digital transformation, and social responsibility.

For instance, in response to growing customer demands and our commitment to environmental stewardship, our Business Unit Performance Materials have set the target of continuously expanding our product portfolio towards sustainability. We aim to significantly increase the share of materials that contribute to sustainable development in our portfolio by 2030.

For that, Business Unit Performance Materials uses a comprehensive framework that considers multiple factors, including natural-based ingredients, upcycled or recycled materials, biodegradability, circularity, sustainably sourced ingredients such as RSPO-certified palm oil, and ingredients with certified eco-labels.

As supply chain management forms the backbone of our services, we develop solutions in logistics and operations to minimise our environmental footprint. This includes optimising transportation routes, improving energy efficiency, and transitioning to renewable energy sources.

Reflected in one of our projects, Minimum Order Values aim to reduce the number of trips needed for the same order locations by consolidating multiple orders into single truck deliveries. In 2024, our Business Unit Consumer Goods implemented the project in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Vietnam.

By automating transactions and digitalising systems, we enhance efficiency and accuracy while reducing environmental impact. Examples include the mCollector credit collection tool and the mPay cash-to-digital payment tool, which streamline credit and payment processes. Digital practices are also applied across daily sales operations, including ordering and billing, further reducing paper used on site.

Our strategy comprises the aforementioned objectives. To track progress, we use scorecards that include KPIs at the group level. Specific targets have been set through 2030, covering all objectives, providing clear milestones for accountability. We underpin our ambitions with transparency and credibility. DKSH annually published its sustainability reports in accordance with GRI standards, disclosed our carbon footprint, and submitted decarbonisation targets to the Science-Based Targets initiative.

Sustainability at DKSH also extends to social impact, advancing education, health, gender equality, and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. In 2022, DKSH joined the UN Global Compact, committing to responsible business conduct in line with its 10 principles and actively contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. Many of the goals are reflected in our material topics, and the priorities reflect our belief that people and communities are critical drivers of long-term progress.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that Viet Research and VIR have jointly conducted and released two core ranking groups: value-creating enterprises and employers.

The value-creating enterprise rankings comprise the Top 500 Value-Creating Enterprises in Vietnam (VALUE500) and the Top 10 Value-Creating Enterprises by Industry 2025 (VALUE10), while the employer rankings include the Top 500 Employers in Vietnam (VBE500), the Top 50 Most Attractive Employers 2025 (MAE50), and the Top 10 Best Places to Work in Vietnam 2025 across key economic sectors (VBW10). The rankings cover most major sectors of the economy.

VBE500 and VBW10 recognise enterprises with strong performance in building professional and positive working environments, improving employee experience and supporting workforce development. MAE50 honours enterprises that have maintained a position in the VBE500 for three consecutive years, reflecting sustained credibility and appeal to domestic and international talent.

These annual studies aim to recognise enterprises that have made notable contributions to improving human resource governance, organisational culture, employee welfare and workplace experience.

VALUE500 and VALUE10 recognise enterprises that demonstrate leadership in value creation, innovation and sustainable development, generating long-term value for businesses, shareholders, employees and society. As global economic uncertainty persists, supply chains continue to restructure and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards become more demanding, value creation is increasingly viewed as a core capability supporting resilience, market expansion, capital mobilisation and talent development.

“2025 continues to record highly commendable efforts by the business community in creating value for both their enterprises and the wider economy,” Le Trong Minh, deputy editor-in-chief of VIR, said at the event. “Despite ongoing global volatility and domestic restructuring, many enterprises have delivered strong results in both the pace and quality of growth, reinforcing their position in domestic and international markets.”

Companies in the VALUE500 and VALUE10 are moving away from growth models reliant on traditional resources towards value creation driven by ESG and innovation. More than 90 per cent have improved or developed environmentally friendly products and services, nearly 64 per cent have integrated sustainability principles across operations, and 73 per cent have incorporated environmental and social factors into risk management during the 2022–2025 period.

Tran Thi Ngoc Ha, CEO of Viet Research, said the survey results show a clear shift in development thinking among Vietnamese enterprises.

“Results further highlight the central role of human capital in long-term value creation,” Ha said. “More than 70 per cent of enterprises have digitalised human resource management, while 85 per cent prioritise workers with skills in AI, data and automation, alongside continued investment in welfare, culture and flexible working models.”

Viet Research also introduced its latest report on value-creating enterprises, which outlines key trends shaping Vietnam’s labour market during a period of deep restructuring. The study points to a rapid shift in skills demand, with repetitive roles declining and demand rising for analytical, data, technology, compliance, risk management and ESG-related positions.

Competition for talent is intensifying, the report said, with enterprises placing greater emphasis on purpose, learning opportunities, career pathways, mental wellbeing and employee experience. Organisations with sustainable strategies, transparent governance, advanced technology adoption and a people-centred approach are seen as holding a clear advantage in talent attraction.

Within this context, the rankings serve as benchmarks for enterprises seeking to strengthen governance capacity and contribute to higher-quality economic growth.

As part of the ceremony, a seminar on creating and leading sustainable transformation in finance and human capital was held. Nguyen Viet Long, deputy managing director of Consulting at EY Vietnam, said two major forces will shape the future of finance and accounting towards 2030: AI-driven digital transformation and ESG-led sustainable development.

“AI is already widely applied, improving efficiency, reshaping workflows and allowing professionals to focus on higher-value tasks, while ESG is driving new roles in green finance and the integration of sustainability into traditional positions,” he said.

Dang Thuy Ha, Northern Region director and corporate strategy advisor at Talentnet, also highlighted the growing impact of GenAI on workforce management.

“Technologies, particularly GenAI, are redefining core job functions across most professions,” said Ha. “This shift requires enterprises to redesign their operating models and human resource strategies.”

Top 500 private firms responsible for 18.4 per cent of revenue Vietnam’s top 500 private enterprises (VPE500), were responsible for 18.4 per cent of the nation’s domestic private sector revenue between 2019 and 2021, according to an August 30 report from the Institute for Development Strategy and the Department of Industrial and Construction Statistics, under the General Statistics Office.

Vietnam’s 500 most profitable firms for 2023 unveiled The latest PROFIT500 rankings, released on September 8 in partnership with Vietnam Report and Vietnamnet, highlight the 500 most profitable companies in Vietnam for 2023, with industry titans like Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Samsung Electronics topping the chart.

70 Vietnamese firms among ASEAN’s Top 500 70 Vietnamese businesses have been listed on the first-ever Southeast Asia Fortune 500 list, which operate in various sectors of the economy, most notably banking, energy, services, and production.