SUSTAINABILITY
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Zara, H&M and
M&S buy materials
from polluting units
in Asia: Report
Renowned fast fashion brands like Zara, H&M and Marks
& Spencer are buying materials produced in factories that
are harmful to human health, states a report. Sadly, the
investigation says that these polluting factories exist mostly
in China, Indonesia and India. The water supplies are getting
contaminated by the toxic run-off from the manufacture of
viscose, eventually leading to risk of cancer.
According to Changing Markets Foundation, though viscose,
a plant-based fibre is environment-friendly, most of them are
produced by using chemical-intensive process, making them
all the more harmful. In Indonesia, there have been instances
wherein locals were found washing viscose products in
the river, thereby exposing themselves directly to the toxic
chemicals. Also at a plant in Jiangxi, China, production of
viscose turned Lake Poyang into black, killing fish and other
sea creatures. In India too, Madhya Pradesh, which is home to
a large viscose plant, several families are reportedly suffering
from cancer after the soil got contaminated.
As per the Foundation, cheap production, which is driven
by the fast fashion industry, along with liberal enforcement
of environmental regulations in China, India and Indonesia,
is proving to be a toxic mix. “This report reveals that some
of the world’s biggest brands are turning a blind eye to
questionable practices within their supply chains. With water
pollution increasingly being recognised as a major business
risk, shifting to more sustainable production processes
should be high on the agenda of retailers,” averred a manager
at Changing Markets Foundation. The Group also added
that large fashion brands like Zara and H&M have such
a significant purchasing power that they can actually put
pressure on suppliers to clean up their methods with relatively
little effort. In fact the Group has said that since 10 companies
control almost 70 per cent of global viscose production, there
are opportunities for a rapid change.
C&A launches C2C
certified gold T-shirts
Dutch fashion retailer C&A has
recently launched the world’s first
Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Gold
products in its stores in 18 European
markets. Certified at gold level by the
Cradle-to-Cradle Product Innovation
Institute (C2CPII), the recyclable
T-shirts are made of 100 per cent
organic cotton, with safe materials and
chemicals and produced in a socially
and environmentally responsible way.
The styles were developed in close
partnership with Fashion for Good.
Fashion for Good is a global
partnership that unites apparel
producers, retailers, non-profit
organizations, innovators and funders
with the shared ambition to transform
the apparel industry into a circular
one. Additionally, the dyes used in
the colouration of the shirts, which
are available in two styles and 17
colours, were selected from the range
of DyStar Levafix® and Remazol®
reactive dyes which received C2C
Gold Level certification for Material
Health from C2CPII last year. With
this honour, the DyStar Group strives
to be part of a more sustainable future
and a growing circular economy
reaffirming its commitment to
environmental and human health.
VFC bags recognition for
its HR operations
VF Corporation, an American
worldwide apparel and footwear
company founded in 1899 and
headquartered in Greensboro, North
Carolina, has been recognized for
its human resource operations by
Workforce Magazine. The company
has been named in the publication’s
“2017 Workforce 100” list.
“Our ongoing commitment to make VF
the best possible place to work is one
we take seriously,” said Anita Graham,
Vice President and Chief Human
Resources Officer, VF Corporation,
adding, “We have incorporated a
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talent focus in our Global Business
Strategy and we will continue to
drive momentum so that we remain
a purpose-driven company that
attracts and develops the best
talent.” The list is based on research
from the Human Capital Media
Advisory Group and uses employee
satisfaction data from Glassdoor.
Seven categories of HR performance
were assessed to compile the list,
including employee development,
workplace culture, employee
benefits, talent management and
diversity and inclusion.