Many Vietnamese textile and garment enterprises are intensifying efforts to turn their production processes sustainable to adhere to buyer nations’ environmental standards and regulations concerning product origin.
For the textile and garment industry, key European Union (EU) regulations include the ecodesign requirements for sustainable products, waste directives and extended producer responsibility programmes.
The Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) is implementing carbon reduction solutions by measuring the carbon footprint across product life cycles and developing a green, circular production strategy. The group's members have reduced electricity consumption per product unit by 2 per cent compared to 2022 so far.
However, the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) feels domestic legal frameworks are limited, with no specific policies or regulations for the sector regarding a circular economy. Regulations on greenhouse gas inventory and carbon taxes are lagging behind international timelines, it said.
Meeting green standards in the textile industry also requires substantial conversion costs and long transition periods. As most Vietnamese textile exporters are small and medium enterprises, this poses a problem.
Many Vietnamese businesses are also keen on investing in green logistics that can help reduce transportation costs and raise efficiency in supply chains by optimising delivery routes and limiting the number of empty or half-loaded trucks on the road.
Tran Thanh Hai, deputy director general of the Agency of Foreign Trade under the ministry of industry and trade (MoIT), said green logistics is not just a trend but a mandatory requirement in the future, meaning businesses could face barriers in terms of awareness and motivation to transition.
Some businesses are aware of this but are too small in scale or have limited funds to make reasonable investments. While there is a high demand for environmental friendliness, customers are not willing to pay more for sustainable logistics services.
Another MoIT official said green logistics is a relatively new concept that is not understood fully and accurately in many developing economies, including Vietnam.
Textiles are an essential part of our daily lives, and understanding the processes used to produce them can help us appreciate the craftsmanship and skill involved. From natural fibers like cotton, wool, and silk to synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon, each raw material has its unique properties and requires specific processes to transform it into a textile. By understanding the journey of a textile from raw material to finished product, we can gain a greater appreciation for the textiles that surround us.
The transition to a more sustainable textile industry is not only necessary but also presents a significant opportunity for innovation and growth. Textile machinery manufacturers are at the forefront of this movement, developing the tools and technologies that will enable greener, more efficient production processes. By focusing on energy efficiency, water conservation, sustainable materials, waste reduction, and the integration of automation and digitalization, machinery manufacturers can help drive the industry toward a more sustainable future. This commitment to sustainability not only benefits the environment but also enhances the competitiveness and resilience of textile manufacturers in an increasingly eco-conscious market.
SUNTECH Textile Machinery Business has consistently exhibited an unwavering commitment towards the development, production, and distribution of high-grade textile machinery since its inception. Our primary objective is to fulfill the diverse requirements of customers worldwide, and as a result, we have exported all of our textile machinery beyond the borders of China. Our extensive range of textile machinery comprises two categories, the Automated Material Handling & Storage Solutions, and the AI Visual Inspection & Automed Packing Solutions. We have garnered immense recognition from customers across the globe for the exceptional reliability and productivity of our products, which is a testament to our years of technological expertise.
