Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Hanoi Le Hong Thang told producers gathered at a networking event held by the department on October 11 to commit to environmentally-friendly garment production.

Nguyen Linh Chi (left) buys a bag made from hessian to protect the environment.

Thang said the textile and garment industry had always been one of Vietnam’s key industries, with export turnover of 30.4 billion USD last year, accounting for 13 percent of total exports. However, the sector was to blame for great amounts of environmental pollution, with huge water and energy use, as well as the discharge of toxic chemicals.

Nguyen Hai Duong, CEO of the M2 clothing chain, which has mostly served local consumers for the last 18 years, said: “We changed the way we serve our customers as their behaviours changed. We introduced products with less harmful materials and adopted recycled packaging. Though such things cost more, our customers are happier with their purchases.”

Nguyen Quoc Trung, who has exported products made from bamboo to Germany for the last 15 years, now sells hessian jute bags, which can be used for shopping instead of plastic ones.

According to Trinh Quoc Vu, deputy head of Energy Saving under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, with some 6,000 factories employing more than 3 million people, the industry is both economically and socially important for the country. 

However, the sector has an adverse environmental impact. Intensive water extraction, use and discharge of wastewater and high energy consumption for water heating and steam generation are all environmental concerns.

In contributing to sustainable development in Hanoi, the Department of Trade and Industry encouraged suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and local consumers to help ensure the sustainable development of the industry.

It set criteria for sustainable development from the very beginning of the production cycle, such as the use of dyes with low formaldehyde content, to using recycled materials for packaging.

Vietnam’s textile-garment industry hopes for breakthroughs in 2019

Vietnam’s textile and garment sector is hoped to make breakthroughs in 2019 based on successes and momentum last year.

Garment export turnover hits over 3.2 million USD

(BGO) – The Customs Office controlling the industrial parks in the northern province of Bac Giang has facilitated and completed the clearance procedure for Ha Phong Export Garment Joint Stock Company (Hiep Hoa district) to export the commodities worth over 3.2 million USD. 

Textile-garment exports aim for 40 billion USD

 

Garment firm to seek opportunities in Canadian market

The Garment 10 Corporation and a number of member enterprises of the Vietnam Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) will visit Canada to seek opportunities to export garment and textile products to the market.

Garment-textile exports reach over 36 billion USD

 

Source: VNA