International Financial Corporation ( IFC ) has launched a US $ 9.9 million project to assist Vietnamese garment and textile companies in enhancing resource efficiency and thereby saving US $ 15 million by minimizing the consumption of water , energy and chemicals . IFC made this announcement at a recently concluded workshop held in Ho Chi Minh City . Under the programme , the selected 28 suppliers of VF and Target Corporation , who have invested the said US $ 9.9 million , are in cutting , sewing , dyeing , printing , laundry and other garment washing operations . By implementing a combination of low-cost and more complex factory projects , these suppliers achieved average water and energy savings of |
more than 20 per cent . Once all the recommendations under the project are implemented along with an additional investment of US $ 26 million in new equipment , the targeted enterprises will save up to 2.8 million c 3 m of water and 5,62,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas per year in the next two years . “ The results of the project in the first stage have proven economically efficient , thanks to the saving of resources ,” averred Kyle Kelhofer , Country Director , IFC for Vietnam , Cambodia and Laos . Kelhofer further added that with the growing economy and the growing industry , measures to increase resource efficiency in the garment industry will open up important opportunities for Vietnam to boost sustainable growth in the private sector . |
UK-based Waste and Resources Action Programme ( WRAP ), which works with businesses , individuals and communities to achieve a circular economy by helping them reduce waste , develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way , has launched a Sustainable Clothing Guide to support brands and retailers to enhance the durability and quality of the apparels they produce . The Guide shares simple steps to best practice on how to design , produce and sell sustainable clothing that last longer and which can easily be repaired and re-used .
“ We encourage designers and product technologists within brands and retailers to use this Guide as part of their daily work to embed durability at the product
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design and development stages ,” as stated in a statement issued by WRAP .
Working together , the clothing industry can pioneer sustainability throughout the lifecycle of clothing . WRAP ’ s research – ‘ Valuing our Clothes ’ – found that the most significant opportunity to reduce carbon , water and waste is to increase the active life of clothes . Extending the life of clothes by nine months of active use would reduce carbon , water and waste footprints by 4-10 per cent , it added .
The Guide states that Durability drives Quality , which safeguards against garment failure ; strengthens brand reputation ; and cements customer satisfaction and loyalty .
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