Companies in Viet Nam are standing on the brink of a major change: a more integrated and interdependent community of ASEAN economies. Viet Nam's domestic market of 90 million is about to become part of a regional market of more than 600 million, as well as a major player in the global economy. While this change brings millions, even billions, of potential consumers, it also brings new competition and higher standards. The ability to comply with international norms is now a crucial factor determining the competitiveness of individual companies, as well as the region as a whole, in attracting new business and foreign investment.
One of the most important international norms is the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), or the integration of social and environmental concerns into business operations. In a progressively interconnected world, companies are recognizing that their practices affect people and places everywhere, and that they have the power to make their impact positive.
Consumers worldwide, but especially in ASEAN countries, are growing increasingly interested in social and environmental issues. They want to support companies with strong ethics, and are often willing to pay more money to support environmentally responsible brands.
CSR provides an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to become role models in the ASEAN Economic Community. By developing meaningful CSR practices to address the region's environmental and social issues, Vietnamese enterprises can attract consumers and investors eager to support responsible brands, establish a norm of environmental stewardship, lead in the development of ASEAN as a region and mitigate risks associated with wildlife trafficking.
One area for development lies in addressing the trade and consumption of endangered species. Southeast Asia is currently a major hotspot for illegal wildlife trade. As a source, transit and consumer country for illicit wildlife products, Viet Nam has suffered drastic consequences from wildlife crime. Nationwide, more than 700 species are threatened with extinction and some of the nation's most iconic animals—including the Vietnamese subspecies of the Javan rhino—have already been lost to poaching. Viet Nam's demand for illicit wildlife products such as rhino horn is one of the main drivers of today’s poaching crisis.
Vietnamese businesses have a unique and powerful opportunity to be leaders in this critical regional and global issue by incorporating wildlife protection into their CSR practices. The e-commerce sector has a particularly important role as illegal wildlife trade becomes more widespread in online marketplaces.
Businesses and individuals can take action at all levels to show their zero tolerance of wildlife crime. Steps as simple as sharing this commitment on a company website, displaying informational posters in the office or conducting company-wide pledges of zero tolerance of illegal wildlife consumption can all make a difference. These actions can also help mitigate risks and protect employees by educating them about the more stringent laws and harsher punishments for wildlife crime which came into effect on 1 July 2016 in the recently updated Penal Code. Under this Code, it is illegal to consume, keep, buy, trade or sell protected wildlife, so the best way to avoid becoming a wildlife criminal is to adopt zero tolerance of illegal wildlife consumption in public and private life.
TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, has implemented the Chi Campaign (http://www.suctaichi.com) to support businesses in creating and enhancing their individualized CSR policies and building business and management capacity. With support from TRAFFIC, many businesses are able to promote social responsibility to fight the illegal consumption of wildlife products and encourage behavioral changes to reduce demand for such products, especially rhino horn, in Viet Nam.
Every business and every individual has the potential to become a role model in addressing this global issue. To learn what you can do, contact Nga Bui at TRAFFIC: nga.bui@traffic.org.