Nguyen Linh Chi (left) buys a bag made from hessian to protect the environment. (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) -Vietnam is one of the world’s largest garment producers, but experts havecalled on enterprises to brush up their green credentials for the domesticmarket.
Directorof the Department of Industry and Trade of Hanoi Le Hong Thang told producersgathered at a networking event held by the department on October 11 to committo environmentally-friendly garment production.
Thangsaid the textile and garment industry had always been one of Vietnam’s keyindustries, with export turnover of 30.4 billion USD last year, accounting for13 percent of total exports. However, the sector was to blame for great amountsof environmental pollution, with huge water and energy use, as well as thedischarge of toxic chemicals.
As one ofVietnam’s garment hubs, Thang said: “It is time for Hanoi to pioneersustainability in the industry – reducing emissions and waste to protect theenvironment. This is also a way for local enterprises to increase theircompetitiveness in domestic and international markets.”
Nguyen HaiDuong, CEO of the M2 clothing chain, which has mostly served local consumersfor the last 18 years, said: “We changed the way we serve our customers astheir behaviours changed. We introduced products with less harmful materialsand adopted recycled packaging. Though such things cost more, our customers arehappier with their purchases.”
Duong’schain is now expanding to other areas outside Hanoi.
Nguyen QuocTrung, who has exported products made from bamboo to Germany for the last 15years, now sells hessian jute bags, which can be used for shopping instead ofplastic ones.
He told VietnamNews: “With more environmental awareness, consumers are paying more foreco-friendly products. We see a big local market and we don’t want to missout.”
Buying abag at Trung’s booth, Nguyen Linh Chi told Vietnam News: “The bag looks trendyand it also helps protect the environment. People of my age are now paying moreattention to the environment.”
Chiadded: “Doing something serious may be hard but buying products like this iseasy.”
Accordingto Trinh Quoc Vu, deputy head of Energy Saving under the Ministry of NaturalResources and Environment, with some 6,000 factories employing more than 3million people, the industry is both economically and socially importantfor the country. However, the sector has an adverse environmental impact.Intensive water extraction, use and discharge of wastewater and high energyconsumption for water heating and steam generation are all environmentalconcerns.
Incontributing to sustainable development in Hanoi, the Department of Trade andIndustry encouraged suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and local consumersto help ensure the sustainable development of the industry.
It setcriteria for sustainable development from the very beginning of the productioncycle, such as the use of dyes with low formaldehyde content, to using recycledmaterials for packaging./.
VNA
