The most often quoted definition comes from the UN World Commission on Environment and Development: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainable living practices not only help reduce pollution but also conserve natural resources like water and energy. The textile sector should help protect the biodiversity of our planet.
The Vietnamese textile and apparel industry was advised to adopt sustainable technologies that have low carbon emissions and build a long-term vision to achieve sustainability goals. This was advised by Hoang Van Tam, Deputy Chief of the Office for Climate Change Green Growth in the Ministry of Industry and Trade at a workshop titled ‘Tapping Climate-Induced Changes’ advised attendees to invest in green and clean manufacturing technologies that meet the sustainable requirements of large markets like the US and EU.
He added that the evolution into a low-carbon consumption production trend was inevitable for Vietnamese textile and garment exporters who should become future-ready.
“If the exporters do not adapt to the trend, then it would result in lost export opportunities for them,” Tam observed. He further added that global garment brands have targeted net zero emissions from their supply chains in various countries by 2050 and so, Vietnamese companies too need to take appropriate actions.
Vietnamese garment exporters will need to calculate carbon emissions and report the resultant carbon footprint in their production supply chain to these brands. Ta Hoang Linh, Director General of the European-American Department in the Industry Ministry also said that apart from competition from other countries, Vietnamese firms face challenges that involve sustainability initiatives.
“So, it is imperative for Vietnamese companies to take the path towards a more sustainable production, which will boost their growth and competitiveness in export markets,” Linh concluded by saying.
