The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITA) has announced new targets to improve the domestic garment sector’s sustainability credentials, media reported.
In the short term, it will task factories with cutting their energy consumption by 15% and water usage by 20% by the end of 2023.
VITA’s general secretary, Truong Van Cam, told the media that the goals have been established with the view to complying with textile legislation that’s on the horizon within Europe.
Vietnam is amongst the world’s leading garment exporters, with the sector being an intrinsic cog in the country’s economy.
To ensure its long-term prosperity, VITA – which represents manufacturers across the nation – has established targets with the view to improving the sustainability credentials of garments manufactured there.
Cam has told local reporters that the inception of these targets has been inspired by the EU’s Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, which it unveiled earlier this year.
Measures include a mandatory EU extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme, ecodesign requirements for textile products, action to tackle micro fibre pollution and green washing, and a new ‘digital product passport’.
The strategy aims to make textiles more durable, repairable, reusable, and recyclable; to tackle fast fashion, textile waste, and the destruction of unsold textiles; and to ensure that production respects human rights.
As a key production hub, Vietnam and its neighbours will be tasked with manufacturing goods in compliance with EU laws.
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