What are the top sustainable fashion tools for your business?

Sustainable fashion begins with responsible procurement and a green value chain. More than the tools design, fashion should increase their efforts in sourcing responsibly, considering all the ESG dimensions in their procurement process.

Some top sustainable fashion tools for businesses include the Higg Index, which assesses environmental and social impacts across the supply chain; the Sustainable Apparel Coalition's Material Sustainability Index for evaluating material choices; and blockchain technology for transparent and traceable supply chains. Additionally, software like Ecolabels, which provides information on eco-friendly certifications, and platforms such as Common Objective, connecting sustainable fashion professionals, can further support businesses in making environmentally conscious decisions throughout their operations.

Developing Sustainable Procurement or Responsible Procurement is and will be key. This would mean all environmental and social factors should be considered (along with financial and economical ones). Only when sustainable practices / considerations are incorporated into procurement, can a sustainable supply chain work - by working with your suppliers.

Desde mi experiencia una correcta selección de materias primas es lo que más positivamente puede impactar para generar productos sostenibles, cambiar fibras sintéticas por fibras orgánicas, usar tintes naturales en vez de tintes químicos, con factores notoriamente diferenciales en el mercado y en su huella de carbono. En la parte social hay también factores a tomar en cuenta, como evitar el plagio o apropiación de los dise?os tradicionales de pueblos indígenas.

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Ensuring sustainability in fashion production demands a holistic approach, encompassing suppliers, manufacturers, and workers committed to human rights, environmental standards, and quality. Tools like Good On You, assessing brands and suppliers, and Provenance, enabling transparent product storytelling, empower consumers and industry players in making ethical choices. FibreTrace, a cutting-edge technology tracing fabric journeys, adds a layer of transparency crucial for accountability. Together, these tools contribute to fostering an ethical, efficient, and transparent fashion production process, aligning the industry with responsible practices and consumer values.

Muchos factores se deben considerar durante la elección de ubicación para una planta de producción, uno de ellos también es evaluar el marco jurídico de los países, a fin de garantizar que se velen por los derechos laborales y ambientales de forma activa.

"Let's imagine we're making a new line of clothing. First, we check Good On You to find suppliers and manufacturers that treat workers fairly and care for the environment. We choose a supplier that gets a high sustainability rating. Then, we use Provenance to share our products' journey, showing customers where our materials come from and how they're made. For instance, our T-shirt starts with cotton sourced from a farm that follows ethical practices. Lastly, we use FibreTrace to add a special code to the fabric, so customers can scan it and see the full journey of their clothes."

Some of the available tools are directed to the end consumer... others are more B2B tools. they are all very useful obviously and it is great to see a proliferations of research tools like the Fashion Transparency Index. But criteria are still far from being harmonized and it is complicated for both companies and for customers to use tolls in a proficient and transparent way, without having to blindly trust third parties.

Here are some ideas to find the right tools improving supply chain sustainability: 1. Optimize efficiency. Enhance RFID Technology (Inventory Management), or analytics/AI tools for accurate demand forecasting 2. Know the risks to mitigate. Use data analytics tools to identify ESG risks in the supply chain, or find alternatives 3. Engage in Sustainable Sourcing Platforms to connect with "verified" suppliers addressing your risks 4. Explore Softwares to collect data directly from suppliers, and lower potential red flags which remain. Can complete with Blockchain traceability 5. Engage in joint initiatives to address structural risks improving supplier assets: capacity building to workers, greater access to investments among several levers

"Let's say we're launching a sustainable fashion brand focusing on activewear. We'd turn to Common Objective to source recycled polyester for our athletic clothing, ensuring eco-friendly production methods. To tackle our carbon footprint, we'd partner with Offset, investing in projects that support renewable energy. For packaging, we'd adopt RePack's reusable bags, maintaining our commitment to sustainability throughout the supply chain."

Sustainable fashion pivots on responsible material sourcing—opting for organic, recycled, and upcycled fabrics, eco-friendly dyes, renewable packaging, and fair labor. Common Objective connects to global sustainable suppliers, fostering ethical collaborations. Offset allows carbon footprint offsetting through verified emission reduction projects. Embracing circularity, RePack offers reusable packaging. These initiatives signify a commitment to responsible resourcing, amplifying sustainability's positive impact on the environment and society.

Sustainable fashion pivots on responsible material sourcing—opting for organic, recycled, and upcycled fabrics, eco-friendly dyes, renewable packaging, and fair labor. Common Objective connects to global sustainable suppliers, fostering ethical collaborations. Offset allows carbon footprint offsetting through verified emission reduction projects. Embracing circularity, RePack offers reusable packaging. These initiatives signify a commitment to responsible resourcing, amplifying sustainability's positive impact on the environment and society.

La solución no siempre debe ser la compensación, buscar soluciones que ataquen el problema de raíz, es mejor a largo plazo. Se debe buscar proveedores locales para evitar la mayor emisión de gases de efecto invernadero por el incremento de km por el transporte utilizado, asi mismo alinear a todos los proveedores en la cadena de suministro, incluyendo factores de evaluación socio ambientales ayuda a elegir mejores proveedores y de esta manera homologarlos a los estándares corporativos.

Ensuring sustainable fashion extends beyond production; effective marketing is pivotal. Craft authentic narratives that educate and inspire consumers about your brand's sustainable journey. Leverage digital tools like Canva for visually compelling content across platforms. Later streamlines social media management, aiding in planning, scheduling, and post analysis. Collaborate with influencers using AspireIQ, connecting with creators aligned with your brand's values. By marrying compelling storytelling, visual appeal, and strategic influencer partnerships, you not only foster consumer engagement but also amplify the message of sustainability, making it a driving force in the fashion narrative.

Communication tools are necessary, but what we really need is to have marketing department to truly understand the products that they will need to communicate. This often fail to exist, and when it comes to ESG, consequences can be catastrophic. When you communicate responsible products and services to consumers you play with their values and beliefs, together with their willingness to do the right thing. An effective communication need to start from a deep, honest, transparent understanding of what we are selling.

O Certificado B, também conhecido como Certifica??o B Corp, é uma ferramenta valiosa de medi??o de impacto na indústria da moda. Essa certifica??o é concedida a empresas que atendem a rigorosos padr?es de desempenho social e ambiental, transparência e responsabilidade. Na indústria da moda, que historicamente enfrentou desafios significativos em rela??o a práticas sustentáveis e éticas, a Certifica??o B tornou-se uma ferramenta eficaz para avaliar e comunicar o compromisso de uma empresa com a responsabilidade social e ambiental. As empresas que buscam esse certificado passam por uma avalia??o abrangente, considerando critérios que abrangem governan?a, impacto ambiental, práticas de trabalho e engajamento com a comunidade.

It is often the case that only large companies are in the position to structure internally an ESG department. It is then necessary for smaller firms to hire consultants to assiste them in their endeavor towards the reduction of their impacts. Despite the fact that I understand this need, I strongly believe that ESG policies should start from the core values of each specific brand, and from those who live and breath the true essence of the brand: it should originate from the inside!