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Creating Value for Your Fashion Business Through Sustainability
By Kelly Drennan, Founder of Fashion Takes Action
Over the past few years, we have seen Fashion Weeks around the world going green. From NYC to Milan to London, sustainable fashion now has a big runway presence. And it’s happening here in Canada as well with Eco Fashion Week Vancouver to which I sit on their Green Advisory Board.
While eco fashion on a runway is certainly more appealing to look at, it is equally important to understand, and shine a spotlight on what goes on behind the scenes as well. There are now awards in place to recognize companies who are embracing sustainability, and while it may be one of the slowest to move, the apparel category is starting to make waves. Timberland, Patagonia, Marks & Spencer, Nike, Puma and many other apparel brands are snatching up sustainability awards left and right.
For fashion businesses that have yet to move into this space, it is important to first understand why it is important; why these major apparel brands are investing their time and money into sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
The simple reason is that it’s good for business. Running a more efficient and sustainable business can impact not just your bottom line or financial assets, but also your triple bottom line – people, planet and profit.
Adopting sustainable business practices is not something that should be feared and it is not exclusive to only a select few. The truth is, it is something that all businesses can, and should embrace.
So for an apparel business that has not yet made this transition, how or where do you begin?
A good place to start is to take a look at your supply chain. As defined by Business for Social Responsibility, a sustainable supply chain is “a system of aligned business activities throughout the lifecycle of products that creates value for all stakeholders, ensures ongoing commercial success, and improves the wellbeing of people and the environment”.
 So a sustainable supply chain in the fashion industry is the entire process involved in making a garment, or its “footprint” both socially and environmentally speaking. It starts at the farm where the raw fibers are grown and cultivated. It includes the factories where the fabrics are made and garments are cut, sewn and dyed. And it ends with point of sale, when the consumer purchases it. A supply chain also includes all the transportation in between each one of those stages.
More specifically, it means providing fair wages and working conditions to farmers and factory workers, incorporating smarter design of garments, and the use of less toxic chemicals. It means being more mindful of waste and effluent, and developing more efficient transportation methods that reduce green house gas emissions.
It is however nearly impossible to make this shift overnight! No company can successfully green their supply chain or operations in the snap of a finger. It requires a strategic plan of action, and one that can be achieved over a number of years. The important thing to remember is that even small steps matter. A great place to get started on developing your sustainable strategy is The Natural Step, who with 11 offices around the world have helped thousands of businesses develop blueprints toward sustainability.
With so much emphasis on the increased cost of “going green”, you might be surprised to find that being more sustainable and efficient, can actually save your company money. The lowest hanging fruit is this sense is energy and waste.
 No matter the size of your business, energy conservation directly results in costs savings. Think about how much energy your stores are generating. Consider lighting and equipment, heating and air conditioning. Dig a little deeper and you will soon discover a great deal of savings to be had. Natural Resources Canada offers a comprehensive step-by-step guide.
Next up is a waste audit or assessment, which can help identify areas for improvement, and in turn save you money once again. You may choose to implement a zero-waste or zero-landfill policy, or strengthen your recycling program. In any case, you will save money in waste disposal fees, particularly once you factor in your distribution centres and manufacturing facilities.
Embracing sustainable business practices will mitigate risk at all points of the value chain, from sourcing and procurement to product fulfillment and logistics, operations, and product lifecycle management design. And it will save you money at the same time.
You can be innovative and sustainable, without hurting your bottom line. In fact embracing a CSR approach will go a long way to helping you improve your triple bottom line – people, planet and profit.
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