Sustainable, Environmental & Ethical (SEE)
The question I keep getting asked is ‘where do I start?’
The answer isn’t simple, what works for one company may not work for another. Wherever you start is the right place – the important thing is to make the commitment and start moving in the right direction – BUT it is important that wherever and whatever you start the CEO / President must be a part of it.
It’s also important to remember that it may not be as difficult or as big a task as you originally thought – many organisations are already doing something – it may not be labelled sustainable, ethical or environmental, it may just be part of what you believe your company is.
There are many obstacles that companies put in place for themselves –
but at the first level all you really need is to agree a path to follow. You need a passion to move without necessarily having the science behind, you still need product diversity and a big decision for many companies – do you go down the incremental or significant change route. If you are serious, rather than purely getting on the marketing bandwagon, do your research – nothing worthwhile is built in a day.
Probably most importantly acknowledge your mistakes, learn from them, and don’t be afraid to partner.
The launch of a reinvigorated Textile Institute Special Interest Group (SIG), SEE, will hopefully become your forum for discussion in all things sustainable, environmental and ethical. We aim to run this Group differently - over the internet with an online discussion forum and by definition it has to be international.
Most SIG’s are run by a committee of industry professionals working within or with a strong interest in the particular area of market sector. If you are interested in joining the Committee please contact me (you will need to be willing to help in answering questions posed in the online forum), we do have to limit numbers, so I’m afraid not everyone can join, but all TI members will be able to participate in the online forum
Vanessa Knowles
editor, textiles
Chair, Sustainable, Environmental & Ethical Special Interest Group (SEE SIG)
vanessa@pebbleinternational.com
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