Cleaner production improves productivity in the garment industry

The costs and results below belong to the cases reported in the original article. They are not quotations or savings guarantees for a new project.

Industry context

At the time of the original report, textile and garment investment and trade were shifting from Central and South America, South Africa, and parts of Eastern, Southern and Western Europe towards Asian production centres. Competition within Asia was intense, while labour, environmental and anti-dumping requirements in major import markets such as the United States and Western Europe were becoming more complex. Vietnamese manufacturers increasingly recognised the importance of information technology alongside cleaner production, energy efficiency, productivity and product quality.

Applying information technology

Many textile and garment companies had established websites, used email for transactions and adopted management and operational software for product design and production. To pursue sustainable, export-oriented growth, the industry explored new technologies and materials with distinctive properties. Software supported design, production management and quality control. Previously, fabric-dyeing customers supplied samples, the manufacturer performed trial dyeing and returned samples for approval before volume production, taking about a week. Digital tools enabled online collaboration and computer-based colour simulation so that production could proceed after customer approval.

Company energy-saving measures

Hanosimex

Energy-saving programmes also helped businesses focus on productivity and quality. Hanoi Textile and Garment Joint Stock Corporation (Hanosimex), an early adopter of environmentally oriented technology, invested nearly VND 223.5 million in 3S energy-saving devices for sewing machines. The devices reduced motor power during idle operation and supported efficient operation at low loads.

Tien Hung Garment Company

Similarly, Tien Hung Garment Company in Hung Yen installed two heat pumps to replace a boiler, replaced compact fluorescent lamps with 35 LED lamps and fitted variable-frequency drives to its pumping system. The measures were reported to save VND 177.6 million in annual energy costs.

Benefits for productivity and sustainable development

These were two examples among many businesses using cleaner production and energy efficiency programmes to improve operating efficiency, productivity and quality.

Environmentally oriented technology does not always require a large investment or a long implementation period. Benefits can extend beyond lower production costs to support the textile and garment industry's sustainable development objectives.