ImagesMagUK_December_2021

MARKET INTELLIGENCE KB www.images-magazine.com 36 images DECEMBER 2021 We asked garment brands for the main message they would like to convey to Images readers about sustainability. Here’s what they had to say... Sustainable viewpoints Buy less, but buy better. Every thing we produce or consume has an impact, and the simplest thing we can all do is to just buy less. That means a shift to higher quality, long-lasting garments that are made from preferred fibres and materials, such as organic cotton, which will be worn and used many times. The days of cheap, disposable, single-wear promo clothing with no regard to how it’s made need to be consigned to history. It means a shift in focus and strategy from quantity and low cost to quality, a lighter environmental footprint and higher value. Done right it means a more stable and profitable business where customers are not going to jump ship to get a product a few pence cheaper, but instead become long-term partners where value and trust is at the heart of the relationship. Prama Bhardwaj, Mantis World Doing the right thing ethically and environmentally has been ‘The Fruit Way’ for a long time. In Morocco, at our purpose-built garment manufacturing facility, our modern wastewater treatment plant enables us to reuse up to 60% of wastewater. Using technology designed for our needs, the wastewater recovery process uses activated sludge as pretreatment, plus sand filtration, ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis. This process is generally applied to desalination of seawater and surface water. We are one of the few companies in the world who use such a process to recycle brackish dyeing water to help reduce consumption and help preserve natural resources. We’re also pleased to report that 75% of our current energy used to produce products for Europe, in our Moroccan facilities, is renewable – this means using the natural power of the wind! We’re currently developing plans to add solar power to our production, helping to make us even cleaner and greener. Fruit of the Loom When it comes to sustainability within a business, we think transparency is key. As a family-run business built on strong values, we feel honesty, courtesy and respect are essential in every decision we make. We are not perfect yet, but striving to be transparent in everything we do, every step of the way. In 2019 we introduced our industry-leading Honestly Made collection made from 100% recycled fabrics and every year we continue to grow and develop our range of sustainable products. Nicki Roberts, Regatta Professional Whilst there will always be a demand for functional and protective workwear, the market is now focused on the environmental impact of human activity: the balance of nature as well as climate. To counter this, everyone must make the transition towards a more sustainable future, and one of the ways workwear buyers/users can do this is to make sustainability a clear priority when choosing their workwear supplier. If we can increase the useful life of a garment by a factor of three, its carbon footprint and water consumption are reduced by 65%, meaning less waste and demand on resources. Starting at the design stage, Result looks at all aspects of a garment to ascertain its sustainability, ensuring the smallest details meet safety standards without compromising durability. Using high-quality recycled fabrics and eco-friendly zips, thread, inks and packaging, we look at how to extend a garment’s useful life. There is much work ahead, however, and we see strong potential in making use of waste (Result launched its recycled polyester range, Genuine Recycled, in January 2021; by the end of September the number of garments sold equated to 3,688,533 one-litre PET bottles). We want to find new uses for worn- out garments in order to create a truly circular economy. David Sanders-Smith, Result Clothing