Vietnam Launches First Electric Heat Pump In Textile Industry
Vietnam’s textile and apparel industry is set to take a major step toward decarbonisation with the installation of the country’s first steam-generating heat pump in the sector. The ground-breaking project is a result of a collaboration between Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), WWF, H&M Group, and leading textile manufacturer Bangjie, and will be implemented at Bangjie’s factory in Hung Yen province.
The initiative aims to replace traditional coal-based steam generation with high-efficiency electric technology, providing a cleaner and more energy-efficient alternative that meets the factory’s full energy demand for dyeing, drying, and air-cooling processes.
The project supports H&M Group’s climate goals to reduce emissions by 56% by 2030 and aligns with Aii’s Low Carbon Thermal Energy Roadmap, which promotes first-mover projects as a foundation for scaling sector-wide electrification by 2030.
Industrial heat accounts for more than half the energy used in textile manufacturing, and the new heat pump system is expected to significantly cut emissions while improving working conditions at the facility.
Described as a milestone for Vietnam’s textile sector, the collaboration demonstrates the power of joint action between brands, suppliers, NGOs, and financing institutions in accelerating clean technology adoption.
WWF, H&M Group, Bangjie, and Aii believe the project can serve as a scalable model for energy innovation not only in Vietnam but also across the global textile supply chain.
