An interview with our managing director Mr. Atul Malhotra, who shares his tips on how to go beyond certifications and ensure the garment manufacturer you choose is creating a positive impact.
Beyond certifications, what should brands look for in an environmentally sustainable manufacturer?
I’d recommend looking for suppliers who have set a roadmap, objectives and who publish their impact results on a regular basis in the form of an annual sustainability report. There must be consistency in their actions – for example, good practices are implemented regularly and are not one-time initiatives.
An inclusive culture, is also important, involving every category of employee in sustainability efforts (committees etc), and actions like recycling or composting, are also key.
Pick suppliers who exceed the demands of compliance mandates on welfare, safety, and environmental aspects. You can also look at what the vendor does for the local community around their area of business – for example, are local sources used, and is the local region benefitting from their sustainable goals.
What green technologies would you advise brands to look for?
The use of Bioremediation to treat water waste for chemical-free recycling and treating food waste to generate organic compost are the first steps to making a positive impact on the environment.
3D Design technology can reduce physical sampling and material use and transportation within the development stage by getting only key outfits sampled, each fabric and/or colour represented from the collection. In this digital age, we can now produce digital collection reviews, and virtual collection presentations, which cut down on the cost as well as wastage.
High tech cutting software also improves material usage, reducing waste by up to ten percent depending on the current systems and processes in the factory. And the Internet of Things helps immensely in collecting real-time data and analyzing it to improve the quality and efficiency by reducing rejects as well as efficient use of energy. The use of Blockchain for traceability is also now picking up pace as well.
Check out the full interview at commonobjective.co here.