As Việt Nam’s apparel and footwear sector works to reduce its carbon footprint and align with global sustainability goals, collaboration across the industry is becoming more crucial than ever. Việt Nam News reporter Mai Hương spoke with Jeremy Lardeau, senior vice president of the Higg Index at Cascale, a global non-profit alliance driving sustainability in the consumer goods industry, about the sector's challenges, opportunities and the role of international partnerships in the transition to a low-carbon economy.

What are the main challenges that Việt Nam’s apparel and footwear sector faces in reducing carbon emissions, and how can collaboration across the industry help address them?

The sector faces critical sustainability challenges, as Cascale’s new Việt Nam Country Report highlights, particularly in energy consumption, carbon emissions, and resource efficiency.

In Việt Nam, the apparel and footwear industry accounts for 8 per cent of industrial energy demand