Building Vietnam’s green industrial future: materials, mindset, and resource efficiency

Building Vietnam’s green industrial future: materials, mindset, and resource efficiency

Industrial real estate is becoming a testing ground for sustainability. From low-carbon building materials and energy-efficient designs to smart water management, a comprehensive green ecosystem will define the country's next phase of industrial development, one built to last, attract foreign direct investment (FDI), and minimise environmental impacts.

The fifth Vietnam Industrial Property Forum (VIPF 2025) opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 29, bringing together policymakers, experts, and industry leaders to discuss the latest developments and emerging trends in Vietnam’s industrial real estate sector.

Lam To Trinh, vice president of product and segment development at NS BlueScope Vietnam Ltd

At the second panel discussion, Lam To Trinh, vice president of product and segment development at NS BlueScope Vietnam Ltd, emphasised the importance of building materials in developing green buildings and industrial parks to reduce emissions and save energy.

She said manufacturers such as BlueScope and Saint-Gobain focus on providing materials that help lower carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency during operation. For example, cladding materials can reflect more heat, reducing cooling energy needs.

“We are also prepared with international certifications such as EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) to make carbon emissions transparent, helping green IPs calculate emissions across the entire zone,” she said.

“Moreover, materials must be durable and sustainable to meet investors’ 20-50-year visions, maintaining building lifecycles and reducing long-term costs,” she added.

However, Trinh noted, “Green transformation in IPs cannot come from one side alone; it requires collaboration among real estate developers, design consultants, contractors, material manufacturers, and tenants.”

Specifically, developers must adopt a green industrial perspective, with clear regulations on infrastructure and materials. Consultants and contractors must understand and comply with these green standards. Material manufacturers should prepare emissions data for easy collection by investors. Tenants in IPs must also be committed to operating green facilities in the long term, she suggested.

Vo Hoang Thanh, business development and sales manager (insulation) at Saint-Gobain Vietnam

Vo Hoang Thanh, business development and sales manager (Insulation) at Saint-Gobain Vietnam, shared that the main challenges in green transition include costs, awareness, and technical standards. Many still believe that developing green buildings means higher upfront investment, without recognising the long-term benefits.

“Among these, awareness is the most crucial. It is essential to shift the mindset of investors and contractors that investing in green projects can attract FDI, enhance product value, and generate long-term gains,” he said. “Material manufacturers will accompany them by helping to overcome technical barriers and reduce production costs to make green products more affordable.”

Le Thi Kim Thanh, business development director of Water at Suez in Southeast Asia

Sharing solutions for a comprehensive green transition in IPs, Le Thi Kim Thanh, business development director of Water at Suez in Southeast Asia, said that the definition of green remains unclear.

“Most new IPs in Vietnam focus mainly on solar energy and green materials, but that alone is not enough to create a truly green, sustainable, smart, and integrated model,” she said.

She emphasised the need to optimise water resources. Advanced IPs around the world prioritise efficient water use and wastewater management.

“Instead of merely building wastewater treatment plants that meet national standards (Grade A) and wasting valuable water resources, developers of IPs should partner with experienced operators and apply advanced technologies using real-time management software,” she suggested.

Therefore, she highlighted three key aspects of a green industrial park model, including optimising resource use (water, energy), reducing environmental emissions, and reusing resources.

She recommended considering wastewater as a resource, not a cost. It can be transformed into reusable energy, for example, converting sludge into biogas for sale or using energy generated from solid waste incineration to power factories.

“A closed-loop, sustainable industrial park model will help solve critical issues and attract high-quality foreign investors,” she stated.

VIR