VF to help Vietnamese suppliers reduce consumption
18/03/2016
Energy and water efficiency assessments will be conducted at 30 factories over the next 12 months to help them reduce operating costs and improve productivity.
In 2015, textile, apparel and footwear sector exports from Vietnam reached $39.2 billion and generated three million jobs. While this sector is energy and water intensive, there are opportunities for reducing resource consumption by 20% or higher by using latest technology and good operating practices, according to IFC.
“With Vietnam’s increasing participation in trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the EU Free Trade Agreement, the local textile sector is poised for faster growth, creating increased demand for sustainable energy and water use practices,” said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC manager for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
“Vietnam’s textile enterprises stand to benefit from this IFC program by further access to global markets while implementing resource efficiency best practices.”
The initiative will assess improvement opportunities, conduct benchmarking studies, share best practices and raise awareness for broader uptake. Subsequent phases will evaluate opportunities for clean energy to meet power needs.
Brad van Voorhees, senior manager for supply chain sustainability at VF Asia, added: “The collaboration with IFC and Target is a natural extension of our work and enables the collective exchange of knowledge and best practices to green the textile supply chain.”
VF owns brands including Timberland, the North Face, Vans and Reef.
Share this story:
