The textile and garment sector is a cornerstone of the Vietnam’s economy, contributing significantly to its GDP and providing employment to millions. However, this sector also poses substantial environmental challenges. The production processes are resource-intensive, consuming vast amounts of water and energy and generating significant waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
In response to these pressing environmental issues, the Green Tech Landing Pad has been established as an innovative initiative aimed at transforming the garment and textile industry in Vietnam. As a collaborative initiative between Vietnam’s National Innovation Center and Digital Transformation Center Vietnam, funded by the German government, this initiative serves as a hub for green technology solutions, fostering collaboration between industry stakeholders, technology providers, and environmental experts.
Energy-efficient production through IoT technology
One notable project is the collaboration between IoTeamVN, a startup focused on IoT solutions, and the Nam Dinh Spinning Factory within Vinatex, one of Vietnam’s largest textile and garment corporations. This pilot project aimed to integrate IoT technologies into Vinatex’s production processes to enable energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
The pilot project involved installing IoT sensors and a data analytics software to monitor real-time energy use of a section of a production line. By leveraging real-time data, Nam Dinh Spinning Factory will be able to make informed and timeline decisions about energy management, potentially conserve 1.5% to 2% of energy for each kilogram of fiber, minimize production cost and comply with the new EU export regulations.
Pineapple leaves revolutionise the textile industry
Cotton cultivation is one of the most water-intensive phase in garment and textile production. Meanwhile, pineapple leaves—a readily available agricultural by-product—have been viewed as waste and often dried and burned in the field. In the face of this challenge, ECOSOI, a Vietnamese startup, has stepped up with a mission to offer sustainable raw materials for the fashion industry. By transforming pineapple leaves into fibers and fabrics, ECOSOI is not only tackling environmental issues but also creating new economic value.
With technical support from GIZ in the Green Tech Landing Pad, ECOSOI partnered with Faslink, a Vietnamese fashion brand focused on eco-friendly products and successfully developed new pineapple fibers that meet the necessary standards for knitting. The new material does not only allow Faslink to craft a variety of unique fabric designs, but also potentially enable the manufacturing of sustainable fabric garments on industrial scales.
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Outlook
The outcomes and impacts of the Green Tech Landing Pad have extended beyond its initial scope. The Digital Transformation Center Vietnam successfully partnered with Merry Year Social Company to acquire additional funding to co-fund the pilot project between IoTeamVN and Vinatex. Following the successful pilot, IoTeamVN was referred by Nam Dinh Spinning Factory to Hue Spinning Factory, another branch within the Vinatex group, to explore further scale-up and collaboration opportunities. Through this initiative, Ecosoi has been introduced to and connected with other GIZ projects in Vietnam. The startup is now an active participant in the Accelerator Program by GIZ’s Go Circular project.
