12:48:48 PM | 10/2/2025
Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam marked the 10th anniversary of its flagship environmental education initiative “Mizuiku – I Love Clean Water” with a commemorative ceremony and the opening of the “Nurture the flow, Future will grow” Exhibition for public visit from October 1 to 6, 2025, at 19/12 Book Street in Hanoi.
Launched by Suntory Group in Japan in 2004, Mizuiku aims to nurture awareness on the importance of water and water conservation for primary pupils. Vietnam was chosen to be the first country outside Japan to implement the Mizuiku program in 2015 under the name “Mizuiku - I love clean water”.
Mizuiku has been tailored to Vietnam’s specific water-resource challenges while retaining Japan’s proactive educational approach. The program offers a comprehensive blend of in-school and outdoor learning activities designed to spark students’ creativity and critical thinking while fostering a lasting awareness of environmental protection for future generations.
The sustainable education model places students at the center and equips teachers as knowledge multipliers – true inspirers for next generations. In 2023, the Mizuiku program transformed its scale and model through a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and Training. Under this partnership, the Mizuiku program’s materials were reviewed, approved to be integrated into the mandatory curriculum, paving the way for its expansion to 34 provinces and cities across the country.
Building on this success, the “Nature Expedition with Mizuiku” initiative was expanded nationwide in July 2025 through a public–private partnership with the Vietnam Forestry Administration - Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. This became Vietnam’s first educational program to link water conservation with nature through such partnership, fostering awareness among students and communities about the vital connection between forests and water resources while inspiring a deeper commitment to environmental protection.
Over the past decade, Mizuiku has emerged to be a flagship in water conservation education, reaching more than one million students, training 16,000 teachers as “inspirers,” and building or upgrading nearly 200 clean-water projects. These efforts have improved access to safe water for over five million people nationwide and underscored Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam’s pioneering role in sustainable development.
Mr. Ashish Joshi, CEO and General Director of Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, spoke at the ceremony: “As a leading beverage company in Vietnam, we recognize the critical importance of water in every aspect of our operations. The 10-year journey of the Mizuiku program is the journey of impacts and evolvement. These achievements are the fruit of far-reaching partnerships with Government and diplomatic partners, notably the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam. Building on this foundation, we are committed to expanding Mizuiku to a new chapter – going beyond teaching ABOUT water – it teaches FOR water, creating lasting, sustainable impact on this precious nature resource.”
Mr. Manabu Seki, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer for Sustainable Development at Suntory Group, remarked: “Mizuiku began in Japan in 2004 to educate the next generation on the importance of water and what each of us can do to protect it for the future. What began as a local initiative has grown into a global movement, reaching over 1 million children by 2024. By 2030, we aim to reach 5 million children worldwide. Over the past decade, Vietnam has not only sustained the program but transformed it - becoming Suntory’s flagship country for Mizuiku and a source of inspiration for global expansion.”
What sets “Mizuiku – I Love Clean Water” in Vietnam apart is its far-reaching public–private partnership. The strong and effective partnership with Vietnamese Government, key ministries, has transformed the program from a modest start into a nationwide education platform.
To celebrate its 10-year milestone, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam – endorsed by the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam – hosted a nationwide creative contest on water conservation from July to August 2025. In just two months, the competition drew nearly 1,000 entries nationwide across age groups and formats, including student drawings (aged 6–15), poster designs (aged 16–40), and innovative Mizuiku lesson plans from primary-school teachers.
The Creative Explorers Awards went to Huynh Ngoc Tue Tam (2012, Hochiminh City), Nguyen Diep Bao Ha (2015, Da Nang), Tran Gia Han (2015, Nghe An), and Le Thi Truc Vy (2012, Lam Dong) for first, second, third, and most impressive prizes, with each work expressing heartfelt messages and unique perspectives on water conservation for a greener future.
The Top 3 Eco Enthusiasts – Tran Ton Bao Ngan (2009), Nguyen Phuc Gia Bao (2007), and Nguyen Ngoc Huy Khang (2009), all from Hochiminh City – blended art and technology to produce striking posters promoting water protection.
Meanwhile, the finalist lectures of the Inspiring Teachers category, delivered by teachers Ngo Thu Thao (Trung Vuong Primary, Quang Ninh), Le Thi Thanh Thuy (Phan Dang Luu Primary, Da Nang), and Ho Thi Ai Chau (Hiep Tan Primary, Hochiminh City) underscored the program’s nationwide impact after a decade.
The standout entries are showcased at the “Nurture the flow, future will grow” exhibition running October 1 to 6, 2025, at 19/12 Book Street in Hanoi. Designed around six interactive zones that exemplifies the water cycle, the exhibition is free and open to the public.
Mr. Ito Naoki, Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam, remarked: “Addressing the water agenda requires involvement by a wide range of actors, from private companies, governments to local municipalities. We are proud to have partnered with Mizuiku during the years. Mizuiku extended the water education beyond the classroom to all over Vietnam, changed the mind-set and nurtured a sense of responsibility of our next generation for water and environment conservation. Congratulate the 10th Anniversary of the Mizuiku program and I believe this exhibition “Nurture the Flow, Future will Grow” spark the most children’s creativity and expression in disseminating candid voices for conserving safe water and protecting the environment.”
Over the past three decades, Suntory PepsiCo has upheld its “Growing for Good” value, growing business in line with Vietnam’s sustainable development goals. The company pioneered sustainable packaging as the first beverage company in the country to launch products with packaging made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET) – Pepsi. All its five manufacturing plants have transitioned from using fossil-fuel boilers to 100% biomass energy, significantly reducing GHG emissions.
Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam adopts a two-fold approach to water stewardship - promoting water circularity within its operations while actively contributing to the restoration and replenishing of the broader water ecosystem. Through the “Water of Life” reforestation program, in public-private partnership with the Vietnam Forestry Administration, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in 2024, the company is planting upstream forests to conserve water sources, carbon absoprtion, and enhance local livelihoods.
Suntory PepsiCo Vietnamworks hand-in-hand with the Government to expand water education in schools and communities, truly demonstrating the spririt of “Ten years to grow trees, a hundred years to grow people.” These efforts aim to ensure equitable access to clean water and quality education, strengthen public-private partnerships, and scale innovative models that foster environmental awareness and long-term sustainability.
Source: Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
