This event, which was supposed to take place in Amsterdam, had to be switched to a virtual platform due to COVID-19. This did not deter attendance and with a total of 237 delegates, the agenda was focused on how the apparel industry could transform factories, engage consumers, drive circularity and reduce climate impact across the fashion and textile supply chains.
With a mix of panel discussions, presentations, virtual networking opportunities and breakout sessions, the conference lasted three days and included an opportunity for participants to learn more about sustainability, circularity and European Union policies such as the Green Deal and traceability.
Participants included brands and retailers including VF, H&M, Decathlon, Patagonia, Hugo Boss, Tchibo, G-star, Zalando, John Lewis, New Look, Aldi, Otto Group, Tom Tailor, Bestseller, S.Oliver and The Very Group. Additional participants were organizations such as Textile Exchange (which recently added the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol on its list of preferred fibers and materials), WWF, Carbon Trust, Fairtrade Foundation and Cotton Connect. The European Commission's deputy head of unit, environment, sustainable production, products and consumption also attended.
Steph Thiers-Ratcliffe, Cotton Council International (CCI) Director of European Brands and Retailers, introduced the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol as part of a panel discussion with H&M and Patagonia focusing on the latest innovations to increase supply chain traceability and transparency beyond tier two.
“Our mission with the U.S. Trust Protocol is to set a new sustainability standard for U.S. cotton production, through quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement,” Thiers-Ratcliffe said. “At the heart of the Trust Protocol is a commitment to use independently verified data to drive continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics.”
The microfiber pollution issue also was discussed by Jesse Daystar, Chief Sustainability Officer at Cotton Incorporated.
Participants agreed that transparency, collaboration and data were the key to success in their long term sustainability strategies, providing the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol an opportunity to support the industry in meeting the sustainability targets to which it has committed.