Fast Fashion's Impact on Vietnam: Legal Aspects and Environmental Protection
The global fashion industry is racing at breakneck speed, meeting the ever-increasing demand for the latest trends. Fast fashion, the industry's latest trend, is causing substantial environmental damage, contributing heavily to carbon emissions and other ecological issues. In Vietnam, the rise of fast fashion brands, both local and international, presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities. The Vietnamese government must address these challenges through effective policies, laws, and environmental protection strategies to ensure sustainable development.
Fast Fashion and Environmental Impact
The phrase 'fast fashion' is increasingly mentioned in discussions about fashion, sustainability, and environmental awareness. It describes the rapid production of low-cost clothing that imitates the latest runway trends and is quickly distributed to stores to capitalize on current fashion trends (Maiti 2024).
The term was first used at the beginning of the 1990s when Zara landed in New York (Rauturier 2023). “Fast fashion” was coined by the New York Times to describe Zara’s mission to take only 15 days for a garment to go from the design stage to being sold in stores (Lai 2021).
Fashion is more than just a means of expression, it is an industry that significantly impacts our planet. Fashion is the second leading field in terms of emissions causing environmental pollution, and the impact on the environment of this industry is increasingly serious (Niinimäki et al. 2020). According to the UN Environment Programme (2019), the industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions. Fast fashion exacerbates these issues, consuming 1.5 trillion liters of water each year and accounting for nearly 20% of industrial water pollution (Global Fashion Agenda and The Boston Consulting, 2017).
Furthermore, brands use synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and acrylic which take hundreds of years to biodegrade. A report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (2017) estimated that 35% of all microplastics – tiny pieces of non-biodegradable plastic – in the ocean come from the laundering of synthetic textiles like polyester.
Vietnam's Role in the Fast Fashion Industry
In Vietnam, fast fashion is gaining a strong foothold in the hearts of consumers. Especially in the age of technology 4.0, when young people spend a lot of time shopping for cheap clothes on e-commerce platforms. In 2022, the number of e-commerce users in Vietnam recorded around 57 million, indicating a year-on-year growth since 2018. That year, Vietnam's e-commerce market value reached approximately 16.4 billion U.S. dollars (Statista 2022).
The revenue of fast fashion brands such as Zara and H&M increases every year. Zara's revenue in three years (2016 to 2018) increased from 320 billion VND to 1700 billion VND. Particularly in the Vietnamese market, where people’s income is not high, fashion brands listed as “Fast Fashion” are still luxury brands. The business results of fashion brands Zara and H&M demonstrate how attractive the potential of the Vietnamese fashion market is for international brands (Manh Hung 2022).
According to a study, 27% of Vietnamese consumers keep clothes for less than a year before throwing them away, compared to China's 23%, Australia's 4%, Hong Kong's 6%, and Singapore’s 6% (YouGov 2017). Thus, compared to other countries in the region, Vietnam has a higher rate of reusing clothes, but the amount discharged into the environment is still of concern. Currently, plastic waste in Vietnam is increasing significantly, with the contribution of fashion waste (Manh Hung 2022).
The Need for Sustainable Policies and Practices
In the National Strategy on Climate Change, Vietnam has announced the goal of cutting emissions by 43.5% by 2030, setting emissions targets for each sector. To achieve this goal, Vietnam has issued many legal documents and proposed policies related to emission reduction issues associated with the net zero emissions target by 2050 (Prime Minister 2022).
The 2020 Law on Environmental Protection is the most important legal document in Vietnam’s strategy to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, the Government of Vietnam also issued Decision No. 2053/QD-TTg on the Plan to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change, directly regulating the field of greenhouse gas emission reduction with Decree No. 06/2022/ND-CP dated January 7, 2022, regulations on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the Ozone layer.
Recommendations for a ‘Greener Future’
Raise Awareness Among the Younger Generation
One of the most effective ways to combat the environmental impact of fast fashion is through education and awareness. Young consumers, who are the primary market for fast fashion, need to understand the environmental footprint of their shopping habits. By promoting sustainable fashion choices and encouraging a shift from quantity to quality, we can foster a culture that values durability and environmental responsibility.
Support Local and Sustainable Fashion
Promoting local fashion brands that prioritize sustainability can also make a significant difference. Vietnamese local brands such as Moi Dien, Dong Sai Gon, and Tim Tay are more likely to have shorter supply chains, reducing their overall carbon footprint. Supporting these brands can also boost the local economy and provide more environmentally friendly options for consumers.
Let’s make fashion fabulous and friendly for our planet. Together, we can turn the tide on fast fashion and stitch a greener future for Vietnam.
As we navigate the world of fashion, it's clear that the allure of fast fashion comes with significant environmental costs. From its massive water consumption to its carbon emissions and contribution to plastic waste, fast fashion poses serious challenges. In Vietnam, the rise of this industry presents a unique set of opportunities and obstacles that we must address head-on.
Bick, R, Halsey, E & Ekenga, CC 2018, ‘The Global Environmental Injustice of Fast Fashion’, Environmental Health, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 1–4, viewed <https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7>.
Boucher, J & Friot, D 2017, ‘Primary microplastics in the oceans | IUCN Library System’, Iucn.org, viewed <https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/46622>.
Global Fashion Agenda and The Boston Consulting Group 2017, PULSE OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY, viewed <https://www2.globalfashionagenda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Pulse-of-the-Fashion-Industry_2017.pdf>.
Lai, O 2021, ‘7 Fast Fashion Companies Responsible for Environmental Pollution’, Earth.org, viewed <https://earth.org/fast-fashion-companies/>.
Maiti, R 2024, ‘Fast Fashion and Its Environmental Impact’, Earth.org, viewed <https://earth.org/fast-fashions-detrimental-effect-on-the-environment/>.
Nijman, S 2019, ‘UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion Addresses Damage of “Fast Fashion”’, UNEP - UN Environment Programme, United Nations, viewed <https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/un-alliance-sustainable-fashion-addresses-damage-fast-fashion>.
Rauturier, S 2023, ‘What Is Fast Fashion and Why Is It so bad?’, Good on You, viewed <https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-fast-fashion/>.
Statista 2022, ‘Vietnam: number of e-commerce users 2022’, Statista, viewed <https://www.statista.com/statistics/1297060/vietnam-number-of-people-buying-consumer-goods-online/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20the%20number%20of>.
