Environmental Sustainability

VESTEX provides comprehensive assistance on sustainability issues by promoting compliance with international requirements and national legislation in the manufacture of textiles and clothing, through the promotion and training of companies in energy efficiency practices, proper water management, waste reduction in the textile industry and the promotion of international certifications, compliance with national regulations, among others..

Why is environmental sustainability important in the apparel and textile sector?

Guatemala’s apparel and textile industry has evolved significantly in recent years, and sustainability has become a key pillar for its continuity. This sector has implemented strategies to reduce its environmental impact, with more efficient practices for the proper use of natural resources, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and proper management of waste and solid waste.

It has also incorporated into its process the selection of more sustainable materials, such as organic or recycled fibers, and has invested in technologies that promote efficiency and quality in its production.

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Environmental sustainability in the apparel and textile industry is more than a trend, it is the differentiating element that sets the path for its continuity and competition worldwide.

As an export industry, it is subject to compliance with high quality standards, and companies in Guatemala must currently have environmental certifications that endorse their commitment and actions to care for the environment, as well as their efficiency in order to make production more efficient and competitive.

Nowadays, one of the main requirements of the clients towards the companies of the sector is to have an Environmental Policy that serves as a spearhead for the actions in favor of an efficient and environmentally friendly production, within which commitments and actions to follow can be defined for a successful environmental management system.

As part of the support that VESTEX provides to its associates and in order to provide companies in the sector with a document that supports them in the development of their environmental policy, VESTEX makes available the Guide to learn how to create an Environmental Policy in the apparel and textile industry in Guatemala.

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Committed to promote more efficient and responsible sustainability practices

VESTEX represents the apparel and textile industry in Guatemala through its participation in public-private forums. It also offers permanent monitoring of trends and regulations with which companies in the sector must comply.

Cascale Global Community Members

VESTEX has been a member of Cascale since 2017, an organization that creates and promotes the Higg Index environmental assessment tool and Higg FSLM labor, which drives the proper use of natural resources (Water, Energy, Waste and Waste, Proper Chemical Management and CO2 Emissions).

By joining Cascale, VESTEX joins more than 195 global brands, retailers and manufacturers, as well as governmental organizations, environmental non-profit organizations and academic institutions, who are collectively committed to improving supply chain sustainability in the apparel, footwear and textile sector.

VESTEX is the first apparel and textile association in Latin America to become a member of Cascale.

Higg FEM tool trainers

As a member of this organization, VESTEX is also an approved trainer for Cascale de Higg FEM, an environmental self-assessment tool in the following areas: emissions, wastewater treatment, water resource use, energy efficiency, proper chemical management, waste and solid waste treatment.

Legislation and regulations

Key environmental certifications for the sector

Higg FEM (Facility Environmental Module)

Self-evaluation tool in environmental matters in the following areas: Emissions, wastewater treatment, water resource use, energy efficiency, proper handling of chemicals, waste and solid waste treatment.
recycled 100

Recycled Claim Standard (RCS)

The RCS is a chain-of-custody standard that verifies and tracks recycled raw materials through the supply chain. It does not address the use of chemicals or any social or environmental aspects of production beyond the integrity of the recycled material.
global recycled standard

Global Recycled Standard (GRS)

It is a comprehensive production standard that serves to verify and track recycled raw materials through the supply chain. It also includes processing criteria to avoid the use of potentially hazardous chemicals and verifies positive social or environmental production at the facility.
oeko

OEKO-TEX Standard 100

Certifies textiles as free of harmful substances. It sets the benchmark for textile safety, from yarn to finished product. Each article bearing the STANDARD 100 label is certified as having passed safety tests for the presence of harmful substances.
bluesign

Blue Sign

It certifies the use of a holistic system that provides sustainable processing and manufacturing solutions to industries and brands. Textiles and products labeled with bluesign, from chemical inputs to final production, have met the strictest standards throughout the supply chain.
better cotton

Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)

BCI's goal is to support farmers. Cotton is a renewable resource, but its production is vulnerable to poor environmental management and working conditions. As stewards of the Better Cotton Standard system, the focus of this organization is to provide training and learning opportunities for farmers to adopt more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable production practices.

Does your company comply with the basic requirements of Environmental Sustainability?

Remember that your organization must have:

Environmental Instrument

(Environmental Impact Study - New Company )
(Environmental Impact Assessment - Existing Company)

Environmental license

Wastewater Technical Study -WWTS -WWTES

Characterization of wastewater 2 times a year

Primary classification of waste and solid waste

Environmental guide for the apparel and textile industry in Guatemala

With the support of the Knitting and Textile Guilds of the Chamber of Industry of Guatemala, VESTEX together with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources worked on the Environmental Guide for the Apparel and Textile Industry of Guatemala, approved by Ministerial Agreement No. 273-2019, in order to incorporate good practices to environmental variables in the planning, development and monitoring of environmental management of the textile and apparel sector in Guatemala, as a minimum technical reference applicable to the development of companies in the cluster in Guatemala. 273-2019, in order to incorporate good practices to environmental variables in the planning, development and monitoring of environmental management of the textile and apparel sector, as a minimum technical reference applicable to the development of cluster companies in Guatemala (weaving, dyeing, hosiery, laundry, fabric finishing, narrow fabrics, clothing and finishing).

This guide can be used as a basis for the preparation of the environmental instrument and, consequently, for carrying out environmental audits.

Press releases

Sustainable fashion is that which takes into account materials, recycling and waste in the production of garments. The fashion industry is seeking to show a new face in its coexistence with the planet. Designers and manufacturers are already working to move towards sustainable fashion, driven by customers who no longer see the throwaway culture as logical.

Regulation | Guatemalan companies now have more time to comply with environmental regulations, they will now have until September 27, 2025 to submit their Environmental Corrective Instrument in addition to obtaining the Environmental License.

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The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) published Governmental Agreement 148-2024 extending the term to one year for medical clinics, restaurants, hotels, educational institutions, production plants, businesses, industries or any type of activity to regularize before the Ministry and comply with the management of the corrective environmental instrument.

Republic

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has amended the Regulations for Environmental Evaluation, Control and Monitoring (RECSA).

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Active environmental contact
Personalized advice from our environmental compliance specialists.

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