The fashion industry is no stranger to controversy. From outsourced labor to overflowing sales racks, brands across the board have been accused of having a “bottom line” mentality, squeezing suppliers for every penny and privileging quantity over quality.
The flow of products from one region of the globe to another is an amazing feat of the modern economy — but it doesn’t come without environmental and human consequences. This is why supply chain is at the crux of any conversation about corporate social responsibility.
And it's why more people are asking clothing companies to look deep into their supply chains and dig out the weeds: 66% of Millennials say they’re willing to pay more for products that are sustainably produced, and 37% of people are willing to switch to another brand if it provides more transparent labelling than their current brand.
"Supply chain is at the crux of any conversation
about corporate social responsibility."
Supply chains everywhere operate under the assumption that “as long as my supplier is delivering on time and giving me a good rate, my business is safe.” But in this new era of conscious buying, ignoring what goes on deep in your supply chain can be damaging to a business’s long term health.
The truth is, many businesses crave better visibility into their own supply chains. But when hundreds, even thousands, of locations are involved in the sourcing and processing of a product, communicating with everyone involved can be a challenge. But achieving sustainability depends on removing these barriers to communicate standards and best practices — from manufacturers, to producers, all the way up to raw material suppliers.
These are just a few of the actions businesses can take to ensure that their supply chains are planet- and consumer-approved.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in full on our Medium site. You can read it here.
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