Textile industry corporations ready to embrace sustainability

Pham Thi Ngoc Huyen, CEO of Viva Garment.

Facing volatile markets, the Vietnamese textile and garment industry is moving towards sustainable development to maintain its competitive position.

During the Vietnam International Trade Fair for Apparel, Textiles and Textile Technologies (VIATT 2025), several major corporations in the industry highlighted their commitment to sustainability and green manufacturing. Speaking to VEN, business leaders emphasized that adopting environmentally friendly practices is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in the global market.

Pham Thi Thanh Huyen, CEO of Viva Garment, shared that her company is actively expanding exports to key markets such as Japan, the U.S., and Europe while simultaneously implementing green production strategies.

"Sustainability is an inevitable trend," Huyen stated. "We are focused on minimizing environmental impact by conserving energy, adopting eco-friendly technology, reducing waste, and—most importantly—utilizing recycled materials."

According to Huyen, green manufacturing not only benefits the environment but also helps corporations like Viva Garment meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international buyers. The company has invested in wastewater recycling systems, optimized production processes, and committed to repurposing excess fabric waste.

Beyond sustainability, shifting global supply chains—partly due to geopolitical tensions—are creating new opportunities for Vietnam to attract international clients. However, Huyen acknowledged that the domestic textile industry faces significant challenges, particularly rising labor costs.

Like Viva Garment, Sigma Vietnam is a major textile and footwear manufacturer, supplying global fashion giants such as Zara, Uniqlo, Muji, and Nike. As a subsidiary of China’s Chanco Group, Sigma Vietnam has been operating in the country since 2015.

Yang Di, Sales Manager of Sigma Vietnam, told VEN: “We believe that establishing a manufacturing hub in Southeast Asia offers long-term advantages, and recent years have proven that. In the past three years, we have expanded our operations and built two new factories specialising in polyester fiber production.”

Initially, Chanco was drawn to Vietnam due to its lower labor and land costs. However, Wang noted that current investment drivers include trade tensions and the need to diversify supply chains.

To mitigate environmental impact, Sigma Vietnam is prioritizing both wastewater treatment and sustainable energy consumption. The company plans to install rooftop solar panels to increase its use of renewable energy and further invest in air and water treatment systems.

"The Vietnamese government has shown great foresight by enforcing strict environmental regulations," Di said. "We fully support these policies and believe they are the right approach for long-term growth."

Similarly, Japan’s Yagi Corporation has been investing in Vietnam since the early 2010s, drawn by the country’s young and abundant workforce. More than 13 years later, the company remains committed to sustainability as a key competitive advantage.

Hisashi Saito, General Director of Yagi’s Vietnam branch, reiterated the corporation’s long-term focus on sustainability, which revolves around four core objectives: "Improving the environment to become a sustainable company," "Addressing environmental challenges for a sustainable future," "Proposing solutions for the future," and "Enhancing corporate social responsibility."

“In Vietnam, Yagi has partnered with its parent company to produce eco-friendly fabrics for both domestic and international markets. By leading digital transformation—from fabric selection to design and 3D technology-driven production management—we aim to minimize the industry’s environmental impact,” Saito explained./.