Eco Fashion World

By the end of 2011 all major textile brands and retailers will have announced initiatives that involve working with a more sustainable supply chain. By then, textile brands will have made supplier choices based on which suppliers are able to report and demonstrate sustainability measures. Between 2012 and 2015, the movement beyond early adopters and into the mainstream will happen. These are just some of the predictions in the 'March to Sustainability' report, published by cKinetics. The report maps supply chain sustainability initiatives by global brands and retailers in their textile procurement process. Most of the firms are already implementing measures within their own facilities and it is a matter of months before they look to their supply chain which is where the majority of the environmental footprint exists.

The report makes the case that the coming decade is going to be about sustainability and optimally using natural resources to generate value in the textile supply chain. The investments being made in sustainability allow companies to use fewer resources for greater output. Manufacturers that are early adopters on carbon efficiency, water conservation etc. will not only add to their bottom line but also have an opportunity to differentiate themselves with the buyers in the near term.

Progressive brands and retailers have been exploring sustainability initiatives since the middle half of the last decade. R&D work on sustainability for some of the firms such as Nike and Adidas has been ongoing in their corporate responsibility groups and now is being integrated into their core business. Similarly leading retailers like Walmart and Marks & Spencer have made this a centerpiece of their new strategy.

The report profiles 19 global firms including Adidas, Gap Inc., H&M, Ikea, Levi Strauss & Co, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Otto and Walmart. In addition, the report also touches upon initiatives that improve the use of raw materials in the supply chain, such as the Better Cotton Initiative and the Organic Exchange. In the next 24-36 months these initiatives are expected to significantly influence the mainstream business practices globally.

Image: Nike Elite Athlete Ashley Borden is a Los Angeles based fitness expert who encourages her clients like Mandy Moore and Natasha Bedingfield to get a green workout.

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