Apparel Online India Magazine April 2nd Issue 2018 | Page 57

RESOURCE CENTRE
ELASTICS / TAPES
decisions are not just based on
price and quality but also on a
manufacturer’s impact on the
environment and community.
At SGS, we realize this paradigm
and have a dedicated team of
experts who work closely with
global organisations like bluesign,
ZDHC, SAC, Transparency
One – the goal is to ease
understanding and access for
local manufacturers to the global
environmental challenge. We are
also very passionate towards the
ZED Make in India scheme and
building capacity to support it.
SGS offerings on product lifecycle
assessment, cradle to cradle
product certifications are also
getting quite popular with Indian
suppliers.
AO: What is SGS doing to
address concerns of smaller
players, the one who don’t have
budgets, but only aspirations to
be fully compliant? 
Monika: Knowledge has the
power to bring in ‘change’. SGS
One such live example is of
our initiatives in the leather
manufacturing belt in UP. The
SGS team has worked closely in
Agra and Kanpur with individual
tanneries, component and
footwear/leather apparel suppliers
on technical problems and test
failures for restricted substances,
mould growth, sole bond issues,
etc. This approach was highly
appreciated, as it led to sustainable
improvement and repeat orders.
AO: What are the new
initiatives lined up for 2018…?
Monika: We are looking at
digitization, and automation
in laboratories to support the
‘speed to market’ challenge that
exporters face as fashion cycle
continues to get shorter. We shall
be developing customized solutions
suitable for the online retailers
and this would be different from
the traditional service model. We
are proactively pursuing strategic
partnerships with leading industry
associations to collaborate
KNITTING / WEAVING YARN
HOOK / BAR
is making initiatives in the
tiered supply chain that involves
smaller suppliers, by extending
support to overcome the present
compliance-related challenges in
a cost-effective and transparent
manner. We are also taking
our global and local experts to
do free technical sessions in
Tier-2 and Tier-3 industry hubs
for increasing awareness on
new regulations and product
recall issues.
and create knowledge sharing
platforms for various supply
chains on environmental and
social compliances. We shall also
continue to invest in high-end
instrumentation in chemical labs,
which are ‘best in class’, having
updated capability of any new
environmental regulatory
standards, and also by far evolving
very frequently, and ensuring that
they are locally available in the
fastest possible time.
www.apparelresources.com | APRIL 16-30, 2018 | Apparel Online India
57