Latest news with #SustainabilitySummit
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Illusion of Choice: Labor Rights and Sustainable Business
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts tend to play favorites. While the environment, social and governance (ESG) framework is a trident, they're not always equal. Some argue that the middle pillar—which addresses social issues such as labor practices and human rights—tends to take a backseat as brands prioritize the first (E) and last (G) columns. More from Sourcing Journal Can Shein Improve Garment Workers' Lives Without the 'Flashy PR Play'? 'A Stain on Humanity': What Canceled ILAB Grants Mean for Fashion Production Ahead of Eid, Bangladesh's Garment Workers Protest Over Unpaid Wages, Bonuses However, the global supply chain's ongoing challenges with labor workers' rights were in the limelight at Sourcing Journal's Sustainability Summit. In what SJ's sourcing and labor editor, Jasmin Malik Chua, described as a 'tasting menu of the labor rights landscape,' a panel of relevant players examined these increasing complexities, considering the interconnectedness of labor rights and sustainable business. 'It's absolutely essential to think about workers' rights as part of a sustainable business,' Tiffany Rogers, director, innovation and development, manufacturing, for the Fair Labor Association (FLA), said in a conversation with SJ's during the ambition-versus-action summit. 'If you treat workers as replaceable units, you will absolutely spend so many resources—on turnover, on HR management, on training—and you will lose on the efficiency gains that everyone is hoping to get when we're talking about sustainability.' She also warned of the potential to 'spend millions' in the consequential damage done to consumer faith for labor rights violations. Rogers (the mind behind the FLA's Fair Compensation Program) went on to explain the FLA's role as a multistakeholder initiative (born out of the Clinton administration some 25 years ago) with members across universities, civil society and businesses) focused on developing the international 'gold standard' of labor rights. When a company commits to joining the existing 200(ish) members—separate from the 2,500-plus affiliates—they're agreeing to a few things, Rogers said. 'They're committing to upholding our workplace standards, in their factories and their farms; they're committing to upholding our principles, at their headquarter-level in their social compliance and human rights due diligence, programs for their supply chains,' she said. The mind behind FLA's Fair Compensation Program also emphasized the collaborative work with fellow panelists—the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) and Transparentem—and efforts to support the U.S. government's messaging on garment workers' holistic rights. This is perhaps a topic of particular pertinence, Chua suggested, given the 'firehose of layoffs' at various humanitarian organizations at the federal level. It's a serious question (granted, one that brusquely boils down to the concept of compassion) with a simple answer, per panelist Thea Lee. 'I actually love that question,' the former deputy undersecretary of the DOL's Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) said. 'Which is, essentially: Why do we have to care? Don't we have enough problems at home?'' The American frustration over globalization perhaps benefitted the current administration well, per Lee. 'I don't personally think that the current administration's policies are going to actually address those problems, but it is the frustration over many, many decades. And we know that; we [the USA] have rules. It is unfair—and irrational—to have rules at home and then tell American businesses that they're in competition with the Wild Wild West out in the rest of the world.' The solution? Options. Like taking a multi-pronged approach, as voluntary codes of conduct efforts alone can't keep both the worker and the business out of the red, per the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC). 'The fundamental problem is it costs more to produce under good conditions than bad conditions. You cannot protect the rights of workers without increasing labor cost,' WRC executive director Scott Nova said. 'And when you increase labor cost, you increase product cost.' The problem won't go away quietly, he continued, not until retailers recognize they're going to have to pay more for products and promise to prioritize labor rights while also maintaining the same level of quality and delivery deadlines. 'We're not going to see progress,' Nova said. 'Codes of conduct and sustainability will continue to function, primarily, to create the appearance of due diligence in the absence of real due diligence.' The persistent problem of deeply embedded exploitation was discussed, considering the hero's journey through the supply chain beyond Tier 1. Transparentem's Tom MacMillan, for example, noted that such voyages would be in vain due to lack of visibility. 'You're looking at then a lot less leverage, or a perceived lack of leverage, by those brands,' MacMillan, program manager at the non-profit organization investigating human (and environmental) rights abuses in global supply chains, said. 'They might feel like these suppliers are a couple of degrees separated from them, so they just don't have any leverage to get them to move. And together, that leads to sometimes buyers saying, 'This isn't my responsibility.'' He argued for an 'expansion of the idea of corporate responsibility,' suggesting that brands have a 'duty to act and to respond to credible reports of abuse,' even if the affected party is not an immediate partner. This is where collective action can come into play, MacMillan said, before sharing an anecdote on alliances. 'Imagine you buy bread at this grocery store, and you're very pleased with the bread. Maybe you even know the bread is ethically-made. And then you come to find out that the muffins, which are for sale right next to the bread, are made by forced labor,' he said. 'Our argument is, then, you have a duty to act and to respond to that; even if you're only buying the bread, you have a duty to respond to the credible reports of abuse out there.' 'We wanted to engage with a really large group of buyers so that they can [jointly] combine their leverage,' he said. 'Alone, each one might say they don't have that much [individual] influence. But when they join, they can really exert more influence over suppliers.' Tangential to enforceable brand agreements, Lee underscored the government's role in creating a 'global economy where workers rights are respected' through trade measures. She suggested that shifting focus to enforce and use the country's existing agreements made over the decades could make it 'economically suboptimal to violate workers's rights.' 'That is the way of creating the level-playing field,' Lee said. 'And that can change the economic calculus for companies.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Steering Circularity Amid Not-So-Sustainable Policy Shifts
While industry-wide efforts to drive environmental legislation—positioning circularity as a solution to climate change—have accelerated in recent years, the new administration in the White House has the federal government shifting priorities with different dynamics emerging. One of those dynamic differences considers the regulatory role that the states and private sector may be forced to play if sustainability is to stick. Suppose the less eco-focused executive and legislative branches do, in fact, place more onus on the states to drive regulation forward. In that case, they will need more capital to successfully execute at a local level. More from Sourcing Journal Supporting Supplier Relationships to Achieve Traceability Meet Puma's Latest Recycled Polyester Partner Coach and Gen Phoenix Talk Circularity and Partnership During SJ's Sustainability Summit, Chelsea Murtha of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) and Rachel Kibbe of the Circular Services Group (CSG) and American Circular Textiles (ACT) discussed how local and national legislation can tackle the hurdles hindering sustainability strategies in the face of a less sympathetic federal government. 'I don't think it's a surprise to anyone in this room that you're not going to get very far on Capitol Hill or with the White House right now by saying, 'This is a great sustainability initiative,'' Murtha, the AAFA's senior director of sustainability, said. 'But that doesn't mean there aren't [other] things you can talk about; things they've indicated are very important to them: U.S. manufacturing.' Giving 'a lot of credit' to her co-panelist—the founder and CEO of CSG and ACT—Murtha discussed the power of flipping the script to position sustainability initiatives as U.S. manufacturing and conservation efforts to gain traction. 'I've watched [Kibbe] in rooms with Republican legislators who are all very excited about her circularity initiative because that's not how she's talking about it,' she continued. 'There are ways to talk about this and get through to folks who would dismiss a sustainability initiative. You can just have a manufacturing initiative that happens to have sustainability impacts [by] starting to lean on things that connect conservation to affordability.' It's true: Kibbe has talked about the Americas Act, for instance, taking a bipartisan lens to emphasize U.S. manufacturing—such as investing in its systems and infrastructures as well as supporting its trade partners—to ultimately underscore the environment's business case instead of its morality clause. 'Narrative is always critical; I mean, that's how you communicate things to each other,' Kibbe said before referencing a few 'horrifying' discoveries when working on the aforementioned bill. 'That made me really start to reframe the way I look at and listen to narratives—not to say that narratives can't be dangerous; we're seeing that play out as well, but I think that's critical.' While Kibbe is focused on securing the industry's seat at the federally-funded table, Murtha is working to 'galvanize' the private sector to advocate for itself—so it can be both 'heard and represented as a squeaky wheel to the federal government' and to ensure the textile sector isn't 'left out of those types of opportunities,' Kibbe said. 'There's a lot of areas where this can go wrong,' she added. 'The devil is going to be in the rule writing process.' Both panelists, however, stressed the importance of revamping existing trade policies that hinder sustainable practices as well as the value in advocating for strategic, incremental changes to achieve longer-term goals. 'There are these sort of wonky, Draconian trade policies that were established eons ago to support domestic manufacturing that haven't been fixed or updated and are now working against us,' Kibbe said, referencing recycled cotton and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA). 'These sort of little things, like death by 1,000 cuts, are big issues that, I think, can brush us aside as an industry if we don't coalesce and come together.' Murtha, too, paused to remind attendees of reality. 'I don't want to overstate, though, the ability to achieve things; it's not as if these are magic words that will fix all the problems,' Murtha said. 'But they are a good place to start when having conversations.'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Podcast: Can Sustainability Survive? Highlights of SJ's Sustainability Report
Can sustainability survive? The political will toward sustainability is constantly shifting, and with the official exit from the Paris Agreement and a 'drill, baby drill' fossil fuel mentality, that answer becomes murkier every day. This has created a climate of uncertainty for eco-minded businesses seeking support from government sustainability requirements. That said, the underlying drivers of a sustainable future—innovation, tapping into cost-efficient renewable energy, and consumer demand for ethical practices—remain intact. In other words, eco-champions are a tenacious bunch. More from Sourcing Journal How Brands Can Bridge Consumers' Sustainability Knowledge and Behavior Gaps Panama Canal Opens 'Net-Zero' Transit Slot for Low-Emissions Ships Coach and Gen Phoenix Talk Circularity and Partnership Sourcing Journal dug into the situation with its State of the Industry Sustainability Report, released the same day as its Sustainability Summit in New York. In this podcast, Lauren Parker, director of Fairchild Studio, chats with Jasmin Malik Chua, SJ's sourcing and labor editor, and Alex Harrell, SJ's sustainability & innovation reporter, about the industry's progress. To listen to the podcast,
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cascale Urges Companies to Reprioritize Sustainability Commitments at Sourcing Journal Summit
NORTHAMPTON, MA / / March 28, 2025 / Chris Marshall, director of transparency and accountability at Cascale, participated in a recent Sourcing Journal Sustainability Summit, which centered around the theme of "Ambition vs. Action." The event brought together industry leaders to explore critical issues facing the fashion industry and provided a platform for attendees to gain fresh insights and discuss practical solutions to drive meaningful, scalable change. Marshall joined Sourcing Journal sourcing and labor editor, Jasmin Malik Chua for a fireside chat to discuss challenges and opportunities for the industry. After an overview of Cascale's evolution from convening stakeholders to driving focused impact, Marshall highlighted Cascale's strategic pillars - Combat Climate Change and Support Decent Work for All - as critical to this renewed focus. While acknowledging the fashion industry's struggle to meet sustainability targets, Marshall stressed the importance of continued commitment to goals, especially those related to decarbonization. He emphasized the need to accelerate action while addressing the barriers that prevent it. Marshall highlighted Cascale's unique position to drive industry progress through the new Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR), developed in partnership with Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) and with the support of RESET Carbon, which will look to prioritize action in the 10 percent of facilities across the textile and apparel supply chain that account for over 80 percent of manufacturing emissions globally, ensuring resources are targeted where they can drive the greatest impact. Marshall also noted the need to create the business case for manufacturer investment to engage facilities and support their decarbonization journey. The IDR program seeks to leverage collective action among brands, enabling manufacturers to unlock decarbonization solutions. Expanding on Cascale's strategic objective to Support Decent Work for All, Marshall highlighted the recent purchase of key assets of Better Buying Institute (BBI) as a significant milestone to advance responsible purchasing practices across the consumer goods industry. He shared how this strategic move reflected the organization's commitment to amplifying supplier voices, fostering industry alignment, and embedding fair purchasing principles more deeply in global supply chains. Speaking on recent developments in the EU around regulation with the recently proposed changes to the Omnibus Package, Marshall emphasized the need for harmonized legislation to level the playing field. He commended manufacturers and brands who have demonstrated a commitment to decarbonization and called for accelerated action. Marshall ended the discussion with an optimistic outlook for the future, noting the commitment among the delegates to collaborate on driving impactful change. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Cascale on Contact Info:Spokesperson: CascaleWebsite: Email: info@ SOURCE: Cascale View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
28-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Cascale Urges Companies to Reprioritize Sustainability Commitments at Sourcing Journal Summit
Chris Marshall, director of transparency and accountability at Cascale, participated in a recent Sourcing Journal Sustainability Summit, which centered around the theme of 'Ambition vs. Action.' The event brought together industry leaders to explore critical issues facing the fashion industry and provided a platform for attendees to gain fresh insights and discuss practical solutions to drive meaningful, scalable change. Marshall joined Sourcing Journal sourcing and labor editor, Jasmin Malik Chua for a fireside chat to discuss challenges and opportunities for the industry. After an overview of Cascale's evolution from convening stakeholders to driving focused impact, Marshall highlighted Cascale's strategic pillars—Combat Climate Change and Support Decent Work for All—as critical to this renewed focus. While acknowledging the fashion industry's struggle to meet sustainability targets, Marshall stressed the importance of continued commitment to goals, especially those related to decarbonization. He emphasized the need to accelerate action while addressing the barriers that prevent it. Marshall highlighted Cascale's unique position to drive industry progress through the new Industry Decarbonization Roadmap (IDR), developed in partnership with Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) and with the support of RESET Carbon, which will look to prioritize action in the 10 percent of facilities across the textile and apparel supply chain that account for over 80 percent of manufacturing emissions globally, ensuring resources are targeted where they can drive the greatest impact. Marshall also noted the need to create the business case for manufacturer investment to engage facilities and support their decarbonization journey. The IDR program seeks to leverage collective action among brands, enabling manufacturers to unlock decarbonization solutions. Expanding on Cascale's strategic objective to Support Decent Work for All, Marshall highlighted the recent purchase of key assets of Better Buying Institute (BBI) as a significant milestone to advance responsible purchasing practices across the consumer goods industry. He shared how this strategic move reflected the organization's commitment to amplifying supplier voices, fostering industry alignment, and embedding fair purchasing principles more deeply in global supply chains. Speaking on recent developments in the EU around regulation with the recently proposed changes to the Omnibus Package, Marshall emphasized the need for harmonized legislation to level the playing field. He commended manufacturers and brands who have demonstrated a commitment to decarbonization and called for accelerated action. Marshall ended the discussion with an optimistic outlook for the future, noting the commitment among the delegates to collaborate on driving impactful change.
