Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) hosted its fourth roundtable discussion on circular textiles this week, bringing together industry stakeholders from across the textile value chain to examine challenges and opportunities in building circular textile systems in Pakistan and Vietnam.
The event convened textile waste collectors and sorters, recyclers, manufacturers, brands, business associations, academic institutions, development partners and members of the Textile and Fashion Learning (TFL) Community of Practice. The discussion aimed to assess the current state of textile circularity in both countries and identify pathways for scaling sustainable practices across the industry.
Participants highlighted that while Pakistan and Vietnam have different industrial environments and policy frameworks, the two countries share several structural similarities in their textile and apparel sectors. Both nations are major global suppliers of textiles and garments, with complex manufacturing ecosystems that rely heavily on export markets.
However, the transition from a traditional linear production model, where materials are produced, used and discarded, to a circular textile economy remains a major challenge.
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Industry experts noted that textile waste collection, sorting, and recycling systems are among the most critical components for building a circular supply chain. Yet these processes remain one of the weakest links in many developing textile manufacturing hubs.
In both Pakistan and Vietnam, fragmented waste collection systems, limited sorting infrastructure and insufficient recycling technologies often prevent textile waste from being reintegrated into production cycles.
As global brands and policymakers push for greater sustainability and circularity in fashion supply chains, strengthening these early-stage processes has become increasingly urgent.
Circular textile systems aim to keep materials in use for longer through recycling, reuse, and resource-efficient production models. Achieving this shift requires significant investment in technologies that can process textile waste into reusable fibers, as well as infrastructure capable of supporting large-scale collection and sorting.
Participants at the roundtable stressed that technological solutions alone are not enough. The development of viable circular business models is also necessary to make recycling systems financially sustainable.
Without clear economic incentives and stable supply chains for recycled materials, many recycling initiatives struggle to scale beyond pilot stages.
Policy frameworks also play a key role in enabling circular textile systems. Regulations that encourage waste recovery, recycling and responsible manufacturing practices can help accelerate the industry’s transition.
Several speakers noted that public-private collaboration is essential for aligning industry practices with government policies and international sustainability standards.
Vietnam’s textile and apparel industry, one of the country’s largest export sectors, has increasingly been focusing on sustainability and circularity in recent years.
Global buyers are placing growing pressure on suppliers to adopt responsible production practices, reduce waste and lower environmental impact across the supply chain.
VITAS has been actively supporting this transition by facilitating dialogue between industry stakeholders, policymakers and development organizations.
Through platforms such as the circular textile roundtable series, the association seeks to consolidate technical insights and market knowledge from across the industry and bring these inputs into policy discussions.
This approach allows industry participants to share real-world experiences and practical solutions while helping policymakers better understand the challenges faced by manufacturers and recyclers.
By bridging these perspectives, VITAS aims to help create a supportive ecosystem for circular textile development in Vietnam.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of cross-country knowledge exchange. Comparing experiences between Pakistan and Vietnam provides valuable insights into how different policy approaches, industrial structures and market dynamics influence the development of circular textile systems.
Participants emphasized that collaboration among manufacturers, recyclers, brands, and policymakers will be essential to overcoming the barriers that currently limit the adoption of circular textiles.
As the global fashion industry continues to face increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact, initiatives that strengthen recycling infrastructure and circular business models are expected to play a crucial role in reshaping textile supply chains.
VITAS said it will continue facilitating multi-stakeholder discussions to support Vietnam’s transition toward a more circular textile economy.
Industry stakeholders interested in further details about the discussion have been encouraged to contact representatives from GIZ Vietnam or VITAS’s International Cooperation Department.
