>> MSG maker offers to pay up, farmers say it’s not enough
Vietnamese businesses have stopped selling condiments made by Vedan in protest against this company’s environmental violations.
Saigon Co.op supermaket chain has decided to no longer buy and sell Vedan’s condiments since August 5.
 |
| Co.op Mart supermarket chain has officially boycotted Vedan’s products. |
Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Deputy General Manager of Saigon Co., said, “This decision was made to support farmers of Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai and Ba Ria - Vung Tau in their lawsuit against Vedan for polluting the Thi Vai River. We want Vedan to find a way to retrieve their products from the market until they can fix the pollution problem and satisfactorily resolve their matters with the farmers.”
According to Nhan, Saigon Co. supermarkets prefer to purchase and distribute products of suppliers that have a proper waste treatment facility, ensuring treated waste to meet environmental standards and certified by relevant authorities.
“We have signed a cooperation program with the Green Business Awards (organised by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Ho Chi Minh City’s People’s Committee). Companies that have been certified as Green Business will be entitled to distributing their products in our stores,” Nhan added.
It was reported that in September, the supermarket chain will coordinate with the Department of Industry and Trade and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to organise a campaign named Green Consumption. The campaign aims to introduce green businesses to consumers and encourage them to select eco-friendly and healthy products. .
Vietnam’s BigC supermarket chain and some supermarkets in the north and central regions of the country have also voluntarily stopped buying and selling Vedan’s products.
Other supermarkets have not officially boycotted Vedan’s products but many consumers have already turned their back on Vedan, causing the consumption rate of this company to drop significantly.
These moves have been considered to be positive reactions from distributors as well as consumers to Vedan’s serious environmental damages. It is also a result of their long-stretched delays and compensation failures.