CSR Portrait n°18: DEEP C

1. Can you explain your activity in a few words?

DEEP C – only European managed, evolved to be one of the largest industrial Zones developers in Vietnam with total of 5 Industrial Zones and +3400 ha of land lease in Haiphong and Quang Ninh city supported by general infrastructure and reliable utilities.

2. Have you already implemented a social or environmental project in your company? Or do you have a sustainable development policy?
DEEP C has sustainable development strategies that focuses on 4 areas:
- Power:
 DEEP C involving their tenants in renewable energy projects by renting clients building’s roof for the installation of solar panels. The first roof solar panels and windmills will be installed by Q1 2021. Distribution network will reduce impact from future loading creases on EVN network by distributing to the IZ’s tenants and supplement 50% of DEEP C’s electricity demand with renewable energy by 2030.

- Water:
In our wastewater treatment plant (ISO 9001 & 14001) we collect wastewater from our tenants and bringing back to the river cleaner water than in an environment. DEEP C reuse of sludge (bacteria) after each treatment circle. Our treated water is reused for irrigation.

- Waste:
 In 2019, to increase durability, DEEP C together with DOW Chemical’s made the first plastic road in Vietnam (200 m and 1.4 km). For 1 km of road used 4.6 Mt of recycled plastic and that equals 1.2 Mio. of plastic bags. More future plastic roads projects are coming.
We reuse the organic waste for nursery

- Green area:
Mangrove preservation is used to replace green zone, flooding buffer and recreational area, reduce dyke designs. We also have a nursery that provides plants for the green zone.

3. What is your next step?

We are currently developing rooftop solar power projects whereby we aim to supplement 50% of DEEP C’s electricity demand of the Industrial Zones with renewable energy by 2030. In parallel we are exploring Waste to Energy solutions. In order to match the power generated with the demand, we are developing storage solutions and e-mobility solutions, such as e-barges for inland water transportation where the generated power could be used to charge these batteries.

Regarding water, we are looking to start using our water for Biomass steam and bring a quality that we could use it as a drinking water.
Regarding waste, a waste separation scheme will be the focus as an everyday routine for DEEP C team and our tenants and we will intensify our recycling program of making more internal roads from plastic waste*.

4. What type of advice would you give to other companies in Vietnam to launch a CSR project?

To other companies in Vietnam, who are working on new CSR projects, we would give the advice to determine long term goals and strategies for what they want to achieve and where they want to focus on. To turn the strategies into actions, we recommend to make the necessary feasibility studies to see what works and the expected returns on the investment . Last but not least, company should carry a thoroughly study on the applicable legal framework.

*CCIFV doesn't have available data about the environmental impact of the plastic road on the long-term