IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is partnering with global apparel and footwear company VF Corp. and retailer Target Corp. to improve efficiency at their supplier factories in Vietnam. IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is partnering with global apparel and footwear company VF Corp. and retailer Target Corp. to improve efficiency at their supplier factories in Vietnam. The manufacturing sustainability initiative will promote resource efficiency by systematically assessing performance improvement opportunities, conducting benchmarking studies, sharing best practice technology and raising awareness for broader uptake of new methodology, IFC announced on Tuesday. The first phase of the program features energy and water efficiency assessments at factories across Vietnam to help them reduce operating costs and improve productivity, according to IFC. The assessments will be conducted in about 30 factories over the next 12 months, with the effort intended to contribute to the … [Read more...] about World Bank’s IFC, partners to promote sustainable Vietnamese textile industry
Sustainable energy technologies and assessments
World Bank’s IFC promotes better energy, water use in Vietnam textile sector
Many Vietnamese factories are expected to operate with better energy and water efficiency under a program announced Tuesday by International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group. The program was launched by IFC, in partnership with global apparel and footwear company VF Corporation and consumer products retailer Target Corporation, aiming to improve resource efficiency at their supplier factories in Vietnam. Under the first phase of this program, energy and water efficiency assessments will be conducted at about 30 factories over the next 12 months. Assessments will be carried out across the textile value chain, including cut-and-sew, dyeing-and-printing and garment-washing operations. The program will provide advice for technical solutions to improve energy and water efficiency while helping suppliers increase productivity and competitiveness. In addition, IFC will help facilitate financing through its partner banks in Vietnam. “With Vietnam’s increasing … [Read more...] about World Bank’s IFC promotes better energy, water use in Vietnam textile sector
Vietnam Introduces Energy Policies at Rio+20
Vietnam Introduces Energy Policies at Rio+20 A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan attended the Special Session on the Global Energy Assessment (GEA), which is part of the RIO+20 Conference on Sustainable Development, in Brazil on June 19 (local time). Speaking at the event, Deputy Prime Minister Nhan said energy sector takes an important role in Vietnam’s socio-economic development process. The sector is now involving in energy exploration, exploitation, production, transmission, distribution and im-export. The Vietnamese Government has adopted a number of policies to develop energy system to make sure that even rural residents and poor households can access to power at reasonable prices. In rural areas, just 3 percent residents could access to power in 1976. The figure rose to 14 percent in 1992 and 94.22 percent in 2008, according to the Deputy Prime Minister. However, the scope and efficiency of the sector remain low due to high power loss … [Read more...] about Vietnam Introduces Energy Policies at Rio+20
In Vietnam, challenging the dominance of dams and fossil fuels
Like other developing countries, Vietnam's energy matrix has been powered by hydropower dams and fossil fuels, while other energy options have gone underdeveloped. Like in other countries, the government has taken to saying that if it doesn't build dams, the only other feasible options are coal and natural gas. Indeed, In 2013, the government decided that 338 remaining hydropower sites are not environmentally nor economically feasible, at least for now. Instead, they've decided to increase by a factor of 17 the amount of electricity produced by coal-fired power plants in the energy matrix, in effect eschewing the idea of a low-carbon economy. In response, Vietnamese civil society is challenging the dominance of both dams and fossil fuels by advocating to the government that there are better energy options available, and they're doing it with technically-sound arguments. I was recently in Hanoi facilitating a training on power planning for our partner organization Green Innovation … [Read more...] about In Vietnam, challenging the dominance of dams and fossil fuels
Corporate Sustainability Index Needs Completing Soon
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Corporate Sustainability Index Needs Completing Soon At the meeting, Mr Nguyen Quang Vinh, Secretary General of VBCSD, reported on VBCSD’s outstanding performance in 2015. Accordingly, VBCSD carried out many sustainable and responsible business models with the inclusion of businesses and low-income people in agriculture; successfully hosted the “Vietnam Business Sustainability Forum 2015,” coordinated with two United Nations agencies, namely the UN Global Compact and the International Trade Centre, to launch the integrated sustainable agriculture programme in Vietnam in the 2015-2018 period; and catalysed and supported enterprises to adopt sustainability reporting as a tool to enhance competitiveness, strengthen governance towards transparency and integrity, and fight against corruption. Besides, VBCSD received and cooperated with domestic and international partners to develop corporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility indices. After piloting at … [Read more...] about Corporate Sustainability Index Needs Completing Soon