Vietnam Advances Green Tech In Textile Industry

Five innovative pilot projects showcasing green technologies for Vietnamese textile and garment exporters were unveiled at the ‘For a Sustainable Garment and Textile Industry in Vietnam’ exhibition held in Hanoi on June 17. This event is part of the ‘Green Tech Landing Pad’ initiative, supported by the German government and implemented collaboratively by GIZ and the National Innovation Center (NIC) under Vietnam’s Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The technologies being tested include IoTeamVN’s energy management solution, Enedig Kft’s cloud-based labor cost calculation tool timeSSD®, Hoang Ha’s waste heat recovery system, ECOSOI’s pineapple-based fabrics and fibers, and BlockTexx’s recycling solution for polyester and cellulose.

These innovations have received positive evaluations from local partners such as VINATEX, Faslink, Thinh Phuc, and Kyungbang, highlighting their potential for widespread application and scaling within the industry.

These pilot projects demonstrate the industry’s readiness to transition towards sustainable production practices and meet stringent European market standards. The textile and garment sector significantly contributes to Vietnam’s GDP, ranging from US$30-50 billion, and stands poised for further growth, especially under agreements like the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Despite this potential, enterprises in the sector encounter technical hurdles in adopting green and sustainable practices required to align with EU regulations and seize growth opportunities. The Green Tech Landing Pad initiative addresses these challenges by identifying, connecting, and facilitating the adoption of eco-friendly technologies among Vietnamese textile and garment enterprises.

Vu Quoc Huy, Director of the National Innovation Center, emphasized the initiative’s pivotal role in equipping enterprises with cutting-edge technologies and sustainable production models, enhancing their competitiveness while steering Vietnam’s garment and textile industry towards sustainability.

Tarek Hassan, Head of the Digital Transformation Centre Vietnam, funded by GIZ, highlighted the sector’s obstacles in green transformation, including high initial costs, ROI uncertainties, workforce skill gaps, infrastructure limitations, technology integration, and environmental concerns.

Dennis Quennet, Director of Sustainable Economic Development at GIZ in Vietnam, affirmed the ongoing commitment of German-Vietnamese cooperation to support Vietnam’s digital and green transformation across various sectors. This collaboration aims to bolster the roles of startups and SMEs in Vietnam’s economy, fostering competitiveness, innovation, and job creation.

Through the Green Tech Landing Pad initiative, nine new technological solutions have successfully been integrated into seven textile and garment export companies, tackling common technical challenges such as sludge treatment, heat recovery, fabric recycling, energy efficiency, labor management, and the adoption of new sustainable materials.