Threading a Sustainable Future for Apparel

Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own.

Consumers are increasingly expecting organisations to take a sustainable approach and consider their environmental, social and economic impact. At the same time, governments are steering businesses towards more sustainable practices through new regulations.

The apparel industry has been behind the curve when it comes to sustainability. While there is a willingness to change and improvements have been made, the adoption of sustainable practices remains a work in progress.

Issues such as the provenance of raw materials and the carbon footprint of fashion have emerged in recent years, but are yet to be fully addressed. Working conditions in the industry remain a key area of focus too.

Supply chain transparency is one of the core pillars to create a more sustainable fashion industry. Without visibility of the types of companies involved across the entire value chain, as well as insight into all the materials and components used, it is impossible for consumers and regulators to ascertain the sustainability credentials of an item of clothing.

This is exactly why KPMG China and Serai have joined forces to take an in-depth look into the current state of the apparel supply chain and how the industry can move forward.