Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility Towards Sustainable Development: Empirical Evidence In The Vietnamese Textile Industry

Research purpose: This paper explores corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the Vietnamese textile industry with empirical evidence from the largest textile and garment company, Vinatex. Research motivation: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) should be intrinsically connected to the concept of sustainable development, as it is a pressing and worldwide necessity of modern advancement. The research on CSR in the Vietnamese textile industry is motivated by the sector’s significant role in the national economy and its environmental and social challenges. As global demands for ethical and sustainable practices grow, Vietnamese textile firms face increasing pressure to adopt CSR. Investigating CSR in this industry can uncover how companies balance profitability with ethical obligations, environmental stewardship, and worker welfare. Understanding these dynamics can offer insights into enhancing the industry’s global competitiveness while also aligning with international standards, contributing to sustainable development, and improving the quality of life for workers and communities. Research design, approach, and method: We collected information on CSR initiatives that have been implemented in Vinatex from their annual reports during 2017 and 2022. The content analysis method was employed to identify CSR activities, categorize them, and evaluate their results. Main findings: It can be said that Vinatex has adopted a methodical and strategic approach to its human resource training policies for the corporation. The achievements that Vinatex has attained are a clear highlight of the corporation’s CSR policies and a bright spot in the Vietnamese textile industry. Vinatex has been actively carrying out compulsory CSR initiatives such as compliance to general legal regulations and those specific to environment preservation. CSR towards customers has not been identified as a priority for the Group. Practical/managerial implications: Our findings imply that focusing on CSR towards employees is an appropriate approach for textile companies in emerging markets. However, in the long term, textile companies should diversify their CSR activities towards more stakeholders, particularly customers and the community.