Despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, SK Innovation is endeavoring to execute ESG management through various activities in and outside Korea. Recently, it was reported that the company’s 2020 Mangrove Reforestation Project in Vietnam has been completed, as well as multiple environmental education programs for local residents.

01 | Continuous effort to restore mangrove forests in Vietnam

SK Innovation has successfully reached the 2020 target for Mangrove Reforestation Project in Vietnam with 180,000 new mangrove trees planted on the total area of 30ha in Tra Vinh. Accordingly, about 340,000 new mangrove trees were planted, and 70ha of mangrove forests have been restored in Vietnam with the support of Vietnam Social Alliance members, including SK Innovation, since the project started in May 2018.

In 2018 and 2019, the Vietnam Social Value Alliance, including SK Innovation members in Korea, gathered 7 times to directly participated in the Mangrove Reforestation Project in Vietnam, which mostly took place in Tra Vinh Province. The 7^th round of mangrove reforestation activity also includes the “I Green We Green Vietnam” campaign that called for actions to reduce single-use plastic products to protect the environment in Vietnam.

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the reforestation activities were entrusted to the local residents, under the guidance of the Bureau of Tra Vinh Province and Manglub. Manglub is the first social enterprise in Tra Vinh, founded with the support of Vietnam Social Value Alliance in April 2019. Despite the difficulties of current situation, Manglub has been making efforts to organize planting activities and operates outreach programs that contribute to creating more jobs and vocational training for local residents.

▲ The volunteers representing the Vietnam Social Value Alliance plant new mangrove trees in Tra Vinh in August 2020

02 | Environmental education programs for better awareness

In addition to the mangrove seedlings planting activities, through Manglub, SK Innovation has also been actively operating diverse environmental education programs for local residents.

Based on various studies, Vietnam used to cover vast areas of mangroves, and they are among the most productive and biologically important ecosystems of the world. However, in the last few decades, Vietnam was reported with a great loss of mangroves, and one of the major cause is human acts. Poorly managed activities such as logging and shrimp farming are major threats to not only mangrove ecosystem but also the whole global environment. Therefore, it is essential to raise the awareness among the local residents living around the mangrove forest areas. Realized this need, after every planting activity, SK Innovation always visited the nearby elementary schools to help young students learn more about the importance of mangroves and protecting the environment.

▲ SK Innovation members visited local elementary schools near the mangrove forests in Tra Vinh (photos taken in 2019)

This year, even though SK Innovation member could not visit the locals in person, through Manglub, it has conducted environmental education sessions to about 500 people, from elementary school students to the adults. These sessions also include a drawing contest and a small-scale exhibition on the theme of environmental protection for 200 students from Dong Hai A elementary school in Tra Vinh Province. A field-trip study was also held for the local children to visit the mangrove eco-region and directly experience the importance of protecting such area.

▲ (Left) The drawing contest for students at Dong Hai A elementary school / (Right) The eco-friendly fashion contest participated by students at Tra Vinh University

The eco-friendly fashion contest participated by students at Tra Vinh University also received positive responses. The students showed off clothes of various designs by recycling plastics and vinyls that are frequently thrown away in daily life. In addition, the environmental seminar held at Tra Vinh University to call for action in response to climate change and improve environmental awareness also drew the interest of many students.