TEXTILES.ORG
cKinetics, a sustainability accelerator providing operational consulting and strategic services, has announced the launch of its annual sustainability report for the textile sector. “March to Sustainability 2011” highlights sustainability plans of leading brands and retailers for their global textile supply chains.
In a global market dotted with increasing regulation and growing consumer preferences for sustainable products, the report outlines implications for manufacturers globally, summarizing key drivers for the increased focus on sustainability:
- a) Brand reputation protection and risk management;
- (b) Increasing resource (water, energy, land) scarcity in the regions of production;
- (c) Compliance requirements both at a product level (driven mainly by the importing market, like REACH in the EU) and compliance requirements at a process level (driven by the production region laws); and
- (d) Consumer preferences for sustainable labels.
Global firms profiled include adidas, Nike, C&A, Gap Inc., H&M, Inditex, John Lewis, Levi Strauss, Lindex, Mountain Equipment Co-op, New Balance, Otto, Patagonia, Phillips-Van Heusen, Puma, Recreational Equipment Inc, VF Corp, Timberland, Carrefour, IKEA, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Wal-Mart and Continental Clothing.
The report provides a detailed insight into the sustainability initiatives undertaken by the firms, and features details on eco-labels, certifications and industry initiatives. “March to Sustainability 2011” also makes three predictions for the next 12-24 months that will influence suppliers and manufacturers:
- The cotton supply chain will undergo significant changes, with a number of initiatives towards ethically sourced cotton going mainstream.
- There will be a unification of reporting and tracking systems across the supply chain, leading to increased transparency and lowering of the reporting costs for manufacturers.
- The industry will witness a consolidation of suppliers, and long-term contracts will increasingly become the norm.