Apparel Online India Magazine May 1-15, 2019 | Page 57

RESOURCE CENTRE Latest technologies in use at Manohar Filaments AMERICAN & EFIRD RELEASES ITS 9TH CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT Sustainability has gained an equally important momentum across the supply chain of the entire textile and apparel industry and many companies are giving due diligence to this globally accepted concept. US-based American & Efird (A&E), a portfolio company of Elevate Textiles and the world’s foremost manufacturer and distributor of industrial and consumer sewing thread, embroidery thread and technical textiles, released its 9th annual, Corporate Sustainability Report, ‘A Focus on the Future’ on 22nd April (Earth Day). The special day selected to release the report highlights the company’s annual progress in terms of environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility. H aving 28 manufacturing facilities and employing over 10,000 associates from around the world directly or in partnership with joint venture partners, A&E measures its performance against the goals outlined within its Eco- Driven® program – the ten threads of sustainability. It is to be noted that 45 per cent of A&E’s global energy portfolio for steam production consisted of renewable fuels in 2018. The Report Outlines… Water Stewardship: The company recycled and reused over 2 billion litres of wastewater through its global operations since 2013 and there was 41 per cent reduction in global water consumption (litres per kg of thread) since 2006. Speaking about the company’s biggest challenges in the branding solutions industry today, for Manohar Filaments, there are many challenges that the labels and branding industry are facing globally, but the most serious one is related to market shifts. As our industry eventually depends on the fate of mass market retailers and brands who are themselves facing margin pressures and lower first sell through, higher inventories and reducing margins, so the downstream effect is natural. The apparel and fashion industry is now toying with the ideas of automation, reshoring and fast-fashion (faster than ever before). With all this happening, Amit also considers that there are three major challenges that are affecting the way branding players are behaving in the world. He asserted, “We are facing three main challenges: The need to have faster lead times, which range from 3-7 days, for all items; then the ability to produce smaller lot sizes at similar or even lower prices, while maintaining some profitability; and supplying where the needle is.” In this competitive scenario, the company thinks delivering the right quality at the right time is the only service that is keeping it ahead of all. “Now the expectations with ultra-fast fashion coming into the foray is to deliver right quality, before time and we are gearing up to do just that. All the players in the branding industry need to become faster as delivering the desired quality at the desired time is what would lead to customer delight. This is the new norm of excellent service,” concluded Amit with a futuristic note. Recycling and Waste Reduction: A&E claims 100 per cent zero-waste-to-landfill status at 16 of its global manufacturing operations and support facilities in 2018, with five other operations recycling more than 90 per cent of by-products and created waste. Global Carbon Footprint and Energy Conservation: There was 13 per cent reduction of global carbon footprint (measured in CO 2 e in kg per kg of thread) since 2006 and 11 per cent reduction was noticed in global power consumption (KwH per kg of thread) since 2006. A&E’s global incident rate improved to 0.55 in 2018. Though it is well below the US industry’s average, but the company’s target is to reach at zero accidents. In 2019… Recently A&E implemented a global energy efficiency best practice program to assist in enhancing the energy efficiency and conversation practice already in place and accomplish reduction goals. In this year, all A&E operations will complete the Sustainable Apparel Coalition’s (SAC) facility Socila Labour Module (Higg FSLM). Its results will be available for A&E’ clients as well as suppliers through the Higg Index System. www.apparelresources.com | MAY 1-15, 2019 | Apparel Online India 57