Believe me, the World is Watching

2 years ago

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Sustainability SummitâSee you April 25!

Are we holding ourselves accountable?
That’s the question I find myself asking as I research the progress we as an industry have made toward becoming more sustainable. I find no shortage of plans, roadmaps or targets. Carbon Neutral by 2040, no more single-use plastic, less waste, greener inputs. We’ve all seen the press releases.
In a study we at Sourcing Journal conducted last year along with AlixPartners, one startling data point jumped off the page. While 80 percent of companies surveyed have sustainability goals, less than two in 10 (19 percent) are actually tracking and using carbon-footprint data.

Therein lies the problem.

Our second annual Sustainability Summit: The Road to 2030 takes place on April 25 in New York. Titled “Promises vs. Progress,” one of the key themes of the day will be parsing the talk from the walk.

We’ll sit down with top executives from across the industry to examine how the leaders in the space are actually monitoring and quantifying change. We’ll speak with service providers who are innovating new technologies to streamline this process. And we’ll highlight where we’re falling short and what can be done to fill in those gaps.

Those of you who have attended our prior events don’t need my sales pitch. They are educational, informative and essential. It’s a “no-BS” atmosphere where we ask the hard questions and bring to light actual solutions and strategies.

This year’s roster of guests is an exceptional one. H&M North America’s head of sustainability will sit down for a candid one-on-one conversation. Executives from Walmart, Hanesbrands and Reformation will discuss “Sustainability in the C Suite.” Brands including Gildan, Tapestry, Everlane, Calvin Klein, Cotton Incorporated, Thredup and Supima will be there to weigh in on everything from circularity to traceability and upcoming legislation. There will also be a discussion marking the 10-year anniversary of the Rana Plaza tragedy, taking an in-depth look at what’s changed in the decade since and the work left to be done.

I’m asking you to join us. Participate. Let your voice be a part of the discussion. There is no “someday” when we are addressing climate change and sustainability. Our industry has been a scapegoat for far too long. The time to act is now. Can’t wait to see you there.