World Textile Summit, co-located with ITMA 2015, saw participation of more than 150 textile industry leaders, sharing a range of expert insights into the business issues concerning decisions on sustainability in the textile supply chain.The summit had a programme designed to examine how investment in ‘clean’ manufacturing or the use of sustainably sourced materials can help add value to companies at all levels of the supply chain.
The summit opened with a Peschka, Director, keynote address by Mary PorterAdvisory Services, at the International Finance Corporation (IF), a division of the World Bank. Porter Peschka explained how the IFC, which operates as the Bank’s commercial arm, assists Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME’s) in developing economies, often providing investment finance where other sources are either unavailable or too expensive. It also provides consultancy to industry and governments on measure to improve sustainability.
The subject of sustainability aligned with the overarching theme of ITMA 2015, which continues in Milan, Italy, until November 19, and the event was structured to assist senior textile decision-makers in formulating strategy. Its elements include the role of sustainability indifferentiating brands and companies, business profitability and security, investment decisions, the circular supply chain, customer acquisition and retention as well as product development
Paula Oliveira, Director, Interbrand, explained how sustainability can deliver a marketing edge by differentiating brands and companies. VivekTandon, co-founder of French private-equity investor Aloe Group, which specialises in sustainable investments and has interests in the fibre sector, gave an investor’s perspective.
There then followed a session in which three textile industry leaders gave their first-hand accounts of the advantages of investment in ‘clean’ manufacturing. Maurizio Ribotti, of CanepaSpA (Italy), Roger Yeh, of Everest Textile Co Ltd (Taiwan), andAjay Sardana, of Aditya Birla Group (India), each briefly described their company’s experience and joined an open discussion on the investment case for ‘green’ technology.
Christian Dietrich, Director, Systain Consulting, described the response of suppliers to an initiative by a grouping of major retailers to mitigate the CO2 burden of their businesses. Helga Vanthournout, Engagement Manager, McKinsey & Co – an expert on the ‘circular economy’ as it relates to textiles – considered how recycling and reuse of end-of-life products can deliver economic and business value. And developing the theme of materials, Linda Keppinger, Global Materials Director, Nike Inc, reviewed sustainable trends in product development.
BurakTun, Director Sales, Menderes Tekstil (Turkey) and Alan Garosi, Global Marketing Manager, Fulgar (Italy) both presented short case study, focusing on their own company’s application of environmentally friendly materials, and were joined on the platform by Peter Waeber, of bluesign technologies, for an open discussion on the strategic choices to be made in material selection.
www.worldtextilesummit.com
