Sustainability
Pottery Barn commits to plant 3 million trees by 2023
Pottery Barn, a brand in William-Sonoma, Inc.’s portfolio, reaffirms its commitment to sourcing wood responsibly by committing to plant three million trees by the end of 2023. Beginning December 31, 2020, the company will plant one tree for every piece of indoor wood furniture sold in areas of greatest need in the US and overseas, thanks to a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, the world’s biggest environmental nonprofit dedicated to planting trees.
Pottery Barn has a long history of purchasing from well-managed timber suppliers and growing the usage of Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood. Pottery Barn’s high-quality home furnishings are partly due to the wood company uses, which is durable, renewable, recyclable, and beautiful. The brand aspires to use 50 % responsibly sourced wood by the end of 2021 and has already achieved 42 % of that objective. The Sustainable Furnishings Council continually ranks Pottery Barn’s parent business, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., in the top ten global leaders in ethically sourced wood.
Marta Benson, Pottery Barn President, said that they’re renewing their intentions and taking the next step in their sustainability journey by setting an ambitious target to plant trees as the new year begins. They’re happy to announce this cooperation with the Arbor Day Foundation in support of its aim to inspire the betterment of the planet, one tree at a time. This collaboration will have a significant influence on their sustainability aims, enhancing their brand and the community that welcomes them into their homes, as well as the planet.
This partnership will restore sensitive ecosystems and endangered forests while also supporting the reduction of climate impact, resulting in cleaner air and water and enhancing lives through the Pottery Barn aim of planting three million trees by 2023. Dining, bedroom, home office, and bath indoor wood furniture comprising at least 80% wood, excluding upholstered furniture, are examples of approved wood goods.
Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, said that trees and forests preserve our essentials of life in a variety of ways, from providing homes for endangered creatures to cleaning our air and water. With the help of dedicated partners like Pottery Barn, they’re restoring important forest ecosystems all across the world, ensuring that their influence will be felt for decades to come.
The Arbor Day Foundation’s relationship with Pottery Barn expands on the brand’s unequaled 70-year commitment to delivering intelligently inspired and responsibly crafted products. Pottery Barn’s offerings, which include Organic, Sustainably Sourced, Fair Trade, Handcrafted, and Certified Nontoxic products, demonstrate this outstanding quality as a visionary leader. For the third year in a row, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., the parent company of Pottery Barn, is the only home retailer on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies list.
Mercedes’ new electric concept car seats made from mushrooms and cacti
Mercedes-Benz has presented a new futuristic and environmentally-friendly electric concept car that might one-day transport drivers from New York City to Detroit using just a single charge.
Based on computer simulation tests, the automobile, called the VISION EQXX by the German automaker, can travel around 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) on a single charge. By comparison, the initial Nissan Leaf electric vehicle could travel 74 miles on a single charge, whereas today’s electric cars can travel up to 300 miles on a single charge.
The future concept car was designed with sustainability in mind. The VISION EQXX’s interior is free of animal products, with seats made of mushroom and cactus fibers. The interior plastic is manufactured from waste that would normally end up in a landfill, while the carpets are made of bamboo. According to Mercedes, using these materials reduces the carbon footprint of leather by half.
Engineers worked on enhancing the battery’s energy density rather than making it larger and heavier. The battery takes approximately half as much room and weighs a third as much as similar-capacity batteries.
The car also has solar panels on the roof that, in ideal conditions, can supply up to 25 kilometers of additional range, or roughly 15 miles.
The VISION EQXX is designed with a smaller front face, meaning there is less air resistance, and a narrower rear wheel track, allowing air to flow more efficiently. A typical electric vehicle uses two-thirds of its battery cutting through the air, so to help reduce that energy use, the VISION EQXX is designed with a smaller front face, meaning there is less air resistance, and a narrower rear wheel track, allowing air to flow more efficiently.
Mercedes is one of many automakers, including Ford and General Motors, that are preparing large electric vehicle initiatives. Customers will be able to select an “all-electric option” for each model by 2025, and Mercedes plans to go all-electric within the decade.
Samsung partners with Patagonia to minimize microplastics
South Korean tech giant, Samsung Electronics, has teamed up with sustainable outerwear brand Patagonia, to develop a washing technology that reduces microplastics, one of the natural ecosystem’s biggest polluters.
The partnership was announced on the first day of this year’s CES technology trade show at Las Vegas when Samsung detailed company-wide sustainability goals. The partnership specifically focuses on microplastics that are emitted when synthetic textiles are washed especially from Patagonia’s popular fleece jackets.
Samsung’s engineers, according to Vincent Stanley, head of Patagonia philosophy, “took this issue to heart.” He stated that this is a fantastic illustration of the partnership we all need to help stop the tide of climate change and restore nature’s health.
While add-on filters for washing machines and protective laundry bags are a start, Samsung believes that more comprehensive solutions are needed to reduce the amount of microplastics emitted during a product’s lifecycle.
The firms claimed they are working on a cooperative approach to address microplastics in textiles and laundry that are realistic, effective, and extensible.
Samsung is developing a new washing machine that will allow users to securely wash their favorite clothes while reducing microplastics’ effect. According to Samsung, the eco-friendly method will maintain the high-performance cleaning and care that the company’s washers are recognized for.
Samsung claims that its washers already use Ecobubble, a technology that allows customers to clean their clothing more efficiently, even at low temperatures, by generating more bubbles. According to Samsung, this allows the detergent to quickly penetrate materials and eliminate filth while conserving energy and protecting the color and texture of the apparel.
Furthermore, the brand’s AI Wash function uses sensors to determine the weight of the load and the level of soiling to ensure that the appropriate quantity of water, detergent, and energy is utilized to clean that specific load, reducing water waste and energy consumption.
LilySilk partners with TerraCycle to launch a recycling programme
Leading silk brand, LilySilk, has partnered with recycling specialist TerraCycle® to introduce a recycling program as part of its zero-waste goal.
Consumers in the United States can recycle non-donatable LilySilk textiles, such as bedding, clothes, and sleepwear made of silk and cashmere, for free through the LilySilk Recycling Programme.
David Wang, LilySilk chief executive, said that at LilySilk, they believe that zero waste can make a tremendous difference, therefore they are leading by example in the hopes of persuading our customers to join them.
Wang added that recycling is a natural and meaningful method for customers to say goodbye to their LilySilk items when the time comes. They’re thrilled to join TerraCycle to be more proactive about environmental sustainability as part of their goal to make the world greener.
Consumers may easily recycle LilySilk textiles by signing up for the program on TerraCycle’s website, washing and packaging all textiles in an accessible box, and mailing the box in with a prepaid shipping label.
The LilySilk textiles will be gathered and converted into shredded fiber, which will be utilized as a filler for cushions, pillows, and linings.
Tom Szaky, founder and chief executive of TerraCycle, said that partnering with environmentally-conscious businesses like LilySilk aligns well with TerraCycle’s mission to ‘Eliminate the Idea of Waste’ and, in turn, care for the planet. Through their recycling program, LilySilk is providing consumers with a sustainable option to part with their LilySilk textiles that can no longer be passed on or donated when they reach the end of their useful life.
Retraced join forces with Décor Global to boost supply chain transparency
Décor Global, a full-service apparel design, manufacturing, and merchandising firm, has announced the introduction of a new traceability relationship with Retraced GmbH, a sustainability and compliance management platform for fashion and textiles.
The collaboration is developing a chain-of-custody traceability solution that will give retailers and brands more access and transparency into the supply chain and material origin, as well as the ability to obtain any essential papers to establish fiber provenance. The collaboration will result in an enterprise-scale platform solution that will assist all relevant supply chain stakeholders in tracking down and collecting the verified evidence documentation required for risk assessment, reporting, and compliance management.
The solution will be fully available from anywhere in the world and can be used to determine the origins of all materials and fibers used in Decor’s textile production. The Décor and retraced collaboration intend to assist the fashion industry’s greatest names in creating more transparent supply chains.
Décor and retraced will use the project to assist their business partners in gaining transparency over their supply chains and tracing back the fibers and materials to their source. This is in response to a worldwide need for more environmentally friendly textile manufacturing.
The two firms were able to collaborate and produce a scalable and digital solution that fulfills contemporary business needs thanks to Décor’s broad network of important supply chain partners and retraced’s compliance management platform community of more than 2,000 brands and suppliers. Based on evidence documents that generate a confirmed chain of custody report, the new cascade traceability tool allows users to track back the manufacture and movement of their clothing, as well as the basic materials (e.g. cotton fiber) (e.g. purchase orders, delivery receipts, etc.).
Thanks to available APIs and system integrations, the solution also connects all value chain organizations that collaborate on data management and allows them to do so on Retraced’s cloud-based platform. This allows the traceability solution to adapt to huge order volumes and continuously changing supply chains for all materials involved, ensuring that brands and retailers obtain the multi-tier reporting and visibility they need to comply with regulatory standards.
Peter Merkert, co-founder and CTO of Retraced, said that they’ve observed that companies require a means to track their production footsteps and find out where their products are manufactured, who creates them, and how they’re made, ever since they started working with their brand and textile partners in 2019. They’ve always had this in mind when constructing Retraced. Tracing is crucial to understanding accountability in supply chains, and they’ve always had this in mind when building Retraced.
Merkert added that now regulators and governments are requiring the industry to track and manage risks. This has increased the demand for something that is business-ready, usable, and scalable .and their platform is poised to meet that demand. Their collaboration with Décor is the ideal springboard for an enterprise-grade traceability solution that avoids all the needless and impractical frills and gets down to the point of addressing both an industry-wide transparency issue and a specific company compliance requirement.
Décor and retraced have announced their cooperation following a successful 6-month test program that began in March 2021. Décor’s key supply chain partners were onboarded to the retraced sustainability management platform and Retraced assisted in the digitization and automation of the documentation process.
The two firms chose to scale the initiative to ensure that all of Décor’s supply chains and materials will be transparent, in order to meet both present regulatory requirements and future market needs for a fiber supply chain fully traceable. The traceability tool will be operational by April 2022, and Décor and Retraced’s partners will have access to all regulatory and compliance information for their supply chains by August 2022.
Michael Cai, Director of Operations & Supply Chain of Décor, said that in the ever-changing dynamics of the fashion industry, transparency is essential. Aside from the regulatory constraints in the countries to which we send goods, the global end customer is raising their expectations of how and what products are produced. Responsible sourcing and transparent supply chains are no longer trends; they have become the norm. It is their responsibility as a firm that sources and produces materials all around the world to lead by example and pull their supply chain partners along for the ride. This isn’t about conformance to Decor. It all comes down to being a global role model.
Cai added that Retraced and its platform have a lot of potential in our opinion. This cooperation helps them to be more proactive and automated in their supply chain data management, as well as deliver instantaneous traceability facts to their brand and retail partners via a sophisticated reporting capacity. What could have taken days to search through and consolidate documents now takes seconds.
Organic Cotton Accelerator welcomes Esprit & Soorty
The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA), a multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to organic cotton, has welcomed two new contributors: Pakistani denim producer Soorty and Hong Kong-based fashion company Esprit.
The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) is a global platform dedicated to bringing organic cotton integrity, supply security, and demonstrable social and environmental impact. Esprit, Soorty, and Insignian Home are among the contributors.
The support and investment of Esprit, Soorty, and Insignian Home as contributors, according to the OCA, will drive its farmer-centric programs aimed at improving the livelihoods of organic cotton producers and those transitioning to organic agriculture.
OCA says that by working together, they can build the groundwork for future supply and meet the growing demand for organic cotton as a raw material while also benefiting people and the environment. They join a growing list of committed organizations working to make a positive difference in the organic cotton industry.
Soorty is utilising its comprehensive vertically integrated infrastructure spanning Pakistan, Turkey, and Bangladesh in order to manufacture sustainable denim at scale. In Pakistan and Bangladesh, the company offers LEED-certified production, as well as a co-creation development facility in Turkey and design centers in New York and Amsterdam.
The Soorty Organic Cotton Initiative (SOCI) is credited with being one of the earliest private-sector initiatives to promote more environmentally and socially responsible cotton agronomy. Over the next four years, SOCI will help over a thousand farmers in Naal shift to a “safer, organic technique of growing cotton.
Asad Soorty, director at Soorty Enterprises, said that SOCI is about more than just growing organic cotton. It’s about providing a better life for the farming families of this impoverished region by increasing their income, improving their education, and gaining access to professional health care. It’s about building a blockchain-based transparent digital marketplace and traceability system to revolutionize the way cotton is purchased. This is their first step into farming, and they’re enthused by the possibilities ahead of them.
ZDHC launches new tool to help suppliers reduce environmental impacts
The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) has announced the launch of a new tool – the Resource Efficiency Module (REM), which it claims will help the textile and footwear industries reduce negative environmental impacts.
The new REM tool, which was launched in collaboration with the Implementation HUB, intends to assist the sector in reducing its impacts in areas such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate change, water scarcity, and pollution.
According to ZDHC and Implementation HUB, the value chain offers the most chances for development in the textile and leather industries. Supply chains give the most leverage to minimize ecological footprints and achieve sustainability targets, according to Higg or CDP reporting, but there are few tools available to really support the change.
This is why the REM has been formally launched on the Supplier Platform by the Implementation HUB.
ZDHC says that by systematically adopting resource efficiency measures, simple, cost-effective methods can minimize energy, water, and chemical use by as much as 65 percent.
Suppliers can use the tool to assess their environmental performance, identify areas for improvement, and put in place steps to preserve resources and improve efficiency. They can also track resource use, as well as initiatives and savings, to help them accomplish ambitious, science-based reduction targets.
Based on revised CPI2 content, suppliers complete a self-evaluation specific to their facility type and operations. They are then given over 300 practical recommendations for improving performance based on a methodical study, clear instructions, and a well-structured management procedure. In addition, the Resource Efficiency Module allows facilities to track their resource usage. Electrical energy, thermal energy, water (to be launched), and chemicals can all be recorded in these facilities (to be launched). CO2e emissions are automatically computed and can be reported to brands.
The REM makes progress and data reporting easier, faster, more flexible, and less expensive. According to ZDHC, it also promotes better ESG-driven decision-making and spotlights ongoing facility improvement by providing hands-on implementation help and chances to track efficiency gains.
ZDHC clarifies CPI2 was a global industry program aiming at reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing facilities in supply chains. The CPI2 online platform assisted suppliers in reducing their usage of energy, water, and chemicals by providing precise recommendations and hands-on assistance.
The Resource Efficiency Module (REM) on the supplier platform now includes the CPI2 methodology. It was renovated, and new features were introduced based on lessons learned during CPI2’s nearly ten-year lifespan.
Renewcell signs agreements with European textile sorters
Sweden-based textile-to-textile recycling company, Renewcell, has secured multi-year purchase agreements with three European textile sorters in December, including SOEX in Germany, Texaid in Switzerland, and Sysav in Sweden. Thousands of tonnes of textile waste will be delivered to Renewcell’s new facility in Sundsvall each year for recycling. Clothing and other textiles gathered from consumers that are unable to be sold second-hand will be delivered to Renewcell.
Martin Stenfors, COO at Renewcell, said that they’re working hard to establish a robust regional supplier network for textile waste fractions that can be recycled with them. They’re thrilled to be able to offer their partners a profitable and circular alternative to downcycling, burning, or landfilling textile products that can’t be sold secondhand.
Each year, more than five million tonnes of textile waste are generated in Europe, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA). Approximately one-fifth of this total is collected for re-use, recycling for upholstery, insulation, or rags, or export to other countries. The remainder is lost in regular household waste, which is disposed of in landfills or burnt. The issue of textile waste management is a priority for the EU, and all Member States will be subject to new regulatory regulations for separate collection and preparation for textile waste recycling beginning in 2025.
Martin Stenfors adds that for the first time, they are able to create new high-quality textile raw material made totally from recycled textile waste thanks to their proprietary recycling process. Together with SOEX, Texaid, and Sysav, they are happy to contribute to the creation of a circular economy for textiles in Europe. Their collaborative effort to increase textile recycling is crucial for the EU to achieve the goals set for 2025.
Story
Dog Is Hailed as ‘Real-Life Lassie’ after Leading Police to Truck Crash
Two men lay unconscious on a frigid Vermont night until Tinsley, a Shiloh Shepherd, led the authorities back to the site of the wreck.
By guest author Vimal Patel from the New York Times
As Cam Laundry lay unconscious in the snowy woods near his battered pickup after a rollover crash, his dog Tinsley ran off into the icy Vermont night and returned with help.
The authorities and local media are now hailing the 1-year-old Shiloh Shepherd as a “real-life Lassie” for her actions on Monday, January 3, 2022 night.
Rescuers said they would not have spotted Mr. Laundry and his seriously injured passenger if not for Tinsley.
They credited her with preventing a terrible night from becoming a lot worse for Mr. Laundry and his passenger. The Vermont State Police said Mr. Laundry, 31, was intoxicated and cited him with driving under the influence. He says he is cooperating with the investigation.
He spoke with gratitude about Tinsley in a phone interview on Wednesday. “She’s my guardian,” Mr. Laundry said as she played with her squeaky squirrel toy. “The night was very cold. We were in hypothermic conditions when they reached us.”
After the crash around 10 p.m. Monday night, Tinsley crossed into New Hampshire, a mile or so away, and led the authorities back into Vermont to the wreck, which officials said they would not have noticed unless someone had seen the damaged guardrail that the truck had tumbled over.
At first the officers were simply trying to catch Tinsley to get her out of traffic on Interstate 89 after a driver reported a dog running loose. But she kept running north, slowing occasionally to keep the officers close behind, Lt. Dan Baldassarre of the New Hampshire State Police said in a statement. She eventually led them to a bridge over the wreck.
“It’s a real-life Lassie story,” he said, referring to the fictional collie from long-running TV and radio programmes who had a penchant for saving humans who got themselves in trouble. “She’s the hero,” Lieutenant Baldassarre said.
Mr. Laundry had minor injuries, including a concussion, bruises and a cut on his hand that required stitches. His passenger in the Ford F-350 truck, Justin Connors, 40, sustained a serious neck injury and a broken leg but was in stable condition, Mr. Laundry said.
An American bulldog belonging to Mr. Connors survived the wreck but was killed by oncoming traffic after the crash, Mr. Laundry said. The bulldog’s name was Grizz, Mr. Laundry said, though he was not entirely sure of the spelling.
Tinsley’s actions were hailed by officials from several responding agencies, some who witnessed the dog’s trek to the crash site, others who saw Tinsley as she stood calmly by her owner as rescuers rendered aid.
In the interview, Mr. Laundry said he did not know how the crash happened and declined to say whether he had been drinking beforehand. He was driving home to North Hartland, Vt., from a restaurant in New Hampshire, about a 15- or 20-mile trip, when he hit a guardrail, the airbags deployed, and the car tumbled several times into the woods, he said.
He regained consciousness, lying in the snow, with the help of flashing blue lights, having no idea at the time that it was Tinsley who had led the authorities to the crash.
Despite stories like Tinsley’s, the science is not yet settled on whether dogs can intentionally seek out other humans to help their distressed owners.
“Well-supported evidence that dogs intentionally go seek help for their owners just doesn’t exist yet,” said Joshua Van Bourg, a Ph.D. candidate at Arizona State University who studies animal cognition behaviours. “That’s not to say it doesn’t happen, and maybe this dog is an example of it.”
Dogs may do things that result in humans being rescued, Mr. Van Bourg said, “but the jury is out on how much of that is done intentionally for the purpose of rescuing people.”
Even so, this behaviour can be remarkable, he said. Tinsley must have loved her owner very much “to be a mile away, free as can be — you know how some dogs get when they’re off leash — and still want to come back.”
There’s evidence to support the conclusion that the stress of the owner “had something to do with the dog coming back,” Mr. Van Bourg said.
For his part, Mr. Laundry has no doubts that his dog made a decision to get help.
“I wouldn’t know what to do with myself if my friend didn’t make it through,” he said. “And Tinsley saved both of us.”
Switzerland
The Federal Customs Administration is now called the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS)
The name change is part of the development of the Federal Customs Administration.
The name of the Federal Customs Administration (FCA) was changed to the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) on 1 January 2022. The Federal Council had already issued the relevant decrees on 12 June 2020. The name change will happen gradually: the website will be modified to http://www.focbs.admin.ch today. Temporary redirects mean that users can still access the previous webpages.
In addition, the FOCBS’s applications will now be gradually adapted to reflect the new name, above all the QuickZoll customs declaration app for tourist traffic.
The name change is only one element in the transformation. The DaziT digitalisation and transformation programme, the organisational refinement and the new standardised “customs and border security specialist” job profile will allow the FOCBS to respond quickly and flexibly to changing situations and make a major contribution to the security of Switzerland.
The name change is part of the development of the Federal Customs Administration.
Textile Machinery
Changes and opportunities through automation
Swiss innovations for smooth processing…and new future business models.
For most textiles, finishing processes are not actually the last stage. Products often need an extra touch of expertise to make them perfectly ready for the customer. At this point in the value chain, that usually means manual tasks – but now there are technical solutions and intelligent systems which can handle complex operations better, while adding extra value and assured quality.
Automation brings reliability and efficiency, ultimately saving costs to produce the right quality every time. Swiss companies are already specialized in many of these disciplines, with machinery for fabric inspection and presentation, labelling and tracking, folding and packaging. They have the technology to inspire a new vision at the post-production segment of the textile manufacturing processes. Optimization of workflows, with bottleneck management, is an obvious potential benefit. And it delivers measurable returns on investment. The wider picture with automation will prepare companies for the IoT and Industry 4.0. This article presents the latest developments in the field from Swiss Textile Machinery member companies.
Digital workflow and process control
The Swiss company Maag Brothers is a leading supplier of high-end machines for quality assurance in the final make-up processes, specifically fabric inspection, plating/folding, selvedge printing and packaging. Maag reports on a practical example from a mill in India which recognized the potential of automation.
An analysis at the customer’s mill identified the main goals as modernization of the workflow at quality control and packing processes. Maag’s new system covers tasks from fabric inspection to dispatch, and offers transparent and easily adjustable processes with real-time process control. It’s a digital solution, resulting in a slim organization, paperless, and the basis for further optimization towards Industry 4.0 to exploit its full potential. The customer’s own calculation showed a ROI for the installation at less than three years – along with a reduction in manpower and savings in fabric costs for shade samples.
Perfectly labelled, efficient data…
Smooth processes start with a label. Swiss company Norsel is an expert in grey fabric labelling systems, for piece tracking through all textile processes. High-quality label printing and proper sealing on all kind of fabrics ensure readability and sustainability after dyehouse processes such as mercerizing, high temperature dyeing and even hot calendering. No roll mix-up during dyeing, easy sorting of fabric rolls and rapid delivery make processes in the mill much more efficient. Using RFID codes lifts fabric inventory control to the highest level, with all information readily transferred to a database and integrated through any ERP software.
It’s a foolproof way to avoid the risk of human errors from hand-written notes on grey fabrics and article sheets, by opting for reliable, secure and forward-looking solutions.
Sample collections – the silent salesmen
First impressions count, so fabric producers like to present their collection perfectly – and that’s only possible with automated solutions. Swiss producer Polytex continuously refines its solutions, underlining its leading position in sample making equipment. Fully-automatic high-performance sample production lines are designed to satisfy the highest expectations. Fully-automatic lines or robotic machines set the standards for quality and performance. Even the most demanding clients can achieve their goals with impeccable samples, quickly and efficiently made, for flawless collections that are sure to impress.
Automation drives buying
First impressions are also the trigger for quick purchase decisions. The proof is there on every store shelf. Customers of Espritech are also well aware of it. They trust this Swiss producer of automated folding machinery to provide the final touch of class to home textiles and apparel products before they go on display. The folding systems are generally large mechatronic devices, loaded with latest technologies in mechanics, electronics, sensors and pneumatics. “Textile producers are amazed how folding machines solve the tricky task of reliably handling chaotically behaving materials. They see process optimization potential and the impact. We observe a slow but continuous change of mindset installing sophisticated technology even in the last steps of textile finishing,” says Philipp Rueedi, CFO at Espritech.
New business models
The advantages of automation in mills with high-volume production are obvious: consistent quality, increased efficiency, waste reduction in some cases, as well as significant medium-term cost reductions in every case.
That description focuses on the aims of modern mills in low-cost markets. But producers in Europe and USA could reach out for more. For them, automation could be a game-changer, offering unique new opportunities.
Reshoring is a growing trend now. It shows great potential and is definitely driven by sustainability and changes in consumer mindsets. “We believe that the time is right – the machines and solutions certainly are – to push automation also to the very end of the production line, replacing intensive manual work and take the chance for reshoring. The current situation is kind of a transition time which is expected to last for a couple more years in the textile industry,” says Rueedi. He adds that any investments in these prime markets pay off much faster because of higher labour costs.
Innovation transformed through automation can do much more than simply replacing the nimble fingers of humans. It also enables new business models, guaranteeing prosperous future business, alongside greater job security. Swiss Textile Machinery members are ready to take customers towards this promising future.
Textile Printing
Textile Producers see the Latest, Advanced Innovations in Digital Textile at EFI Reggiani Open House
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Trade
2021: A Year in Trade in Review
By guest author Director Trade & Agriculture at OECD
2021 has been another turbulent year, with disruptions to supply chains and continued economic fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, even amidst these challenges, we have seen great progress in moving forward on some of the most pressing issues on the international trade agenda. At the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate, we are proud to have contributed to this progress.
At the WTO, 67 members concluded negotiations on domestic services regulation; G7 Trade Ministers agreed on new Principles for Digital Trade; and the Global Trade and Gender Arrangement welcomed its fourth member. We are very pleased to have supported these processes.
We have made direct contributions on pressing issues like trade and environment and WTO reform. With the support of our Directorate, Participants to the OECD Arrangement on Officially Supported Export Credits agreed to end support for unabated coal-fired power plants, and by doing so made a concrete contribution to COP26. Our work on subsidies, government support and the level playing field in global markets contributes to shaping the thinking on the future agenda of the trading system.
This focus on the medium- to long-term has not stopped us from supporting our members in their day-to-day decision making. With an increased focus on granular monitoring and forward-looking intelligence on goods and services trade for OECD members and with our new online tool on how to strengthen the resilience of global supply chains, we stood and continue to stand ready to support our stakeholders in the context of new challenges. “he OECD campaign on “no Trade, no vaccines”, underpinned by our work, showed how the decisions of policy-makers matter for lives and livelihoods.
In the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate, we look forward to continuing to support a sustainable recovery with new policy insights and analysis in 2022. We begin in January with new information on export restrictions for critical minerals and an update of our Services Trade Restrictiveness Index. Until then, we wish you all a Happy Holiday Season.
USA
Joint Statement from AAFA, NAFTZ, NRF, RILA, AND USFIA regarding CONGRESSIONAL PASSAGE OF THE UYGHUR FORCED LABOUR PREVENTION ACT
On December 16, 2021, Congressional passage of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, H.R. 6256, is a key component of a broad global strategy, and our shared goal, to end forced labor. We thank Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) for their leadership on this legislation.
Our members are persistent and unyielding in their efforts to identify, root out, and eliminate traces of forced labor in their supply chains, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is a critical partner to supplement our members’ own due diligence. This legislation will amplify that partnership by ensuring CBP can effectively and robustly enforce not only the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, but the larger forced labor statute, by using a transparent and evidence-based process based on U.S. jurisprudence to target bad actors. These efforts are essential to effectively stop products made with forced labor from entering the United States.
We look forward to President Biden quickly signing this bill into law and to working with CBP on crafting a smart, comprehensive, effective, and enforceable strategy to carry it out.
The United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) is dedicated to fashion made possible by global trade. USFIA represents brands, retailers, importers, and wholesalers based in the United States and doing business globally. Founded in 1989, USFIA works to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers that impede the fashion industry’s ability to trade freely and create jobs in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., USFIA is the voice of the fashion industry in front of the U.S. government as well as international governments and stakeholders. With constant, two-way communication, USFIA staff and counsel serve as the eyes and ears of our members in Washington and around the world, enabling them to stay ahead of the regulatory challenges of today and tomorrow. Through our publications, educational events, and networking opportunities, USFIA also connects with key stakeholders across the value chain including U.S. and international service providers, suppliers, and industry groups.
The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is the national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their suppliers, which compete in the global market. Representing more than 1,000 world famous name brands, we are the trusted public policy and political voice of the apparel and footwear industry, its management and shareholders, its three million U.S. workers, and its contribution of more than USD 350 billion in annual U.S. retail sales. AAFA provides exclusive expertise in trade, brand protection, and supply chain & manufacturing to help our members navigate the complex regulatory environment and lower costs. Members gain unparalleled access to information and exclusive insights on regulation and policy, and premier opportunities for networking and collaboration.
NAFTZ is the voice of the U.S. Foreign-Trade Zones program, created by Congress in 1934 to help U.S.-based companies be more globally competitive; maintain U.S.-based activity and jobs; attract investment to American communities; and boost exports through special duty benefits and customs procedures. FTZs account for a significant portion of total U.S. trade – 5.6 percent (USD 87 billion) of U.S. goods exports and 10.7 percent (USD 250.6 billion) of U.S. goods imports in 2017. Over 450000 American workers are employed at FTZs in all fifty states and Puerto Rico.
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing USD 3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies.
RILA is the US trade association for leading retailers. We convene decision-makers, advocate for the industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is to elevate a dynamic industry by transforming the environment in which retailers operate. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than USD 1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad.
Turkey
Bestseller is launching women’s empowerment initiative in Turkey
Danish fashion brand, Bestseller, will launch a new women’s empowerment initiative in Turkey in collaboration with ACEV, a non-profit dedicated to women’s and children’s education. The initiative will be focused on empowering women garment workers employed by its Turkish suppliers, building on the achievement of attaining the Fashion FWD aim of empowering 100,000 women four years ahead of schedule.
The Turkish market accounts for around 15% of Bestseller’s business volume, making the partnership with ACEV a critical step toward achieving the goal of providing female garment factory workers with the skills, environment, and opportunity to make educated personal and professional decisions.
Andrei Vasiliev, Bestseller’s Social Impact Manager, said that ACEV’s experience and desire to attempt something new impressed us greatly. They’ve been working for decades and have a thorough understanding of their requirements, and they were willing to customize the curriculum to accommodate the subtleties specific to their sector,
When planning and developing programs like this women empowerment program, the Social Impact team prioritizes scalability.
Vasiliev added that their goal here is to contribute to an industry-level solution that they and other businesses in the country can use, in addition to making a beneficial impact inside their own supply chain. They hope that once the pilot is completed, they will be able to offer the program and the business case for having it to other brands buying from Turkey and persuade them to join, just as they did in Pakistan.
Bestseller has previously collaborated with BSR, an Indian education provider, to conduct women’s empowerment programs in Bangladesh, India, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and, most recently, Pakistan. However, because BSR did not cover Turkey, Bestseller needed to find a new partner, which they did with ACEV.
ACEV will collaborate with Bestseller to build a curriculum for a women empowerment program that combines lessons learned from BSR programs in several markets. The trial will run for ten months at four carefully selected suppliers after the curriculum is finalized. Between 1,500 and 2,000 women are expected to attend ten seminars concentrating on a variety of themes, ranging from health resource access to digital literacy.
Seçil Orhan, Bestseller’s Social & Labour Manager in Turkey, said that over the years, he has conducted hundreds of interviews with women who work in their suppliers’ factories as part of their due diligence process – their stories and struggles stay with him, and he is so thrilled that they are now going beyond making sure they are okay, and actively helping them, providing women with education and tools that can help them achieve what they want.
Internal migration is a problem unique to Turkey’s apparel industry. Women frequently go from villages to cities such as Istanbul or Izmir in search of factory work.
Seçil added that these women are frequently separated from their families and support networks, the majority of whom have not completed high school, and they can be vulnerable to various forms of exploitation – especially if they are unaware of their rights or the mechanisms available to them to address their concerns. This is something they want to make sure the curriculum addresses – knowing their rights has an influence not only on these women but also on their friends and peers, with whom they will hopefully share this knowledge.
Webinars
WIPO Webinar on Rights Data and Identifiers for Performers (January 19, 2022)
Welcome back to our series of webinars on copyright infrastructure!
We thank everyone who joined past webinars and are pleased to invite you to the next webinar, which will take place on January 19, from 1.00 to 2.00pm CET, on the topic: “Rights data and identifiers for performers”.
Rights data and identifiers for performers
Programme:
- 1:00 – 1:05 Opening remarks and introduction
- 1:05 – 1: 40 Presentation
- 1:40 – 2: 00 Q&A
Speaker:
- Mr. Rémy Desrosiers, Managing Director, Societies’ Council for the Collective Management of Performers’ Rights (SCAPR)
Online registration can be had here
The series of webinars features a number of speakers from the public and private sector on a range of topics relevant to copyright infrastructure, such as metadata, identifiers, technology solutions and WIPO services.
The webinars are open to member states, observers, as well as to the general public. They include a presentation, followed by a Q&A session.
Worth Reading
What should development co-operation actors do to achieve a just digital transformation?
Digital transformation is revolutionising economies and societies with rapid technological advances in AI, robotics and the Internet of Things. Low- and middle-income countries are struggling to gain a foothold in the global digital economy in the face of limited digital capacity, skills, and fragmented global and regional rules. Political stability, democracy, human rights and equality also risk being undermined by weak governance and the abuse of digital technology. The 2021 edition of the Development Co-operation Report makes the case for choosing to hardwire inclusion into digital technology processes, and emerging norms and standards. Providing the latest evidence and policy analysis from experts in national governments, international organisations, academia, business and civil society, the report equips international development organisations with the latest guidance and good practices that put people and the sustainable development goals at the centre of digital transformation.
Development co-operation can support a just digital transformation for all by:
- Ensuring policies and partnerships power an inclusive digital future.
- Collaborating with public and private actors to build functioning systems.
- Scaling up and targeting financing for development impact.
Newsletter of of the time before we stopped publishing
State of Fashion 2022 (Part 2) by McKinsey and Business of Fashion https://textile-future.com/archives/81779
The highlights of last week’s NEWS, for your convenience, just click on the feature to read.
Aviation
Aviation: slot relief rules for airlines extended https://textile-future.com/archives/81990
Buyback completed
Swiss Forbo: Fixed-price buyback offer completed https://textile-future.com/archives/81829
Competence Centre
Construction of the competence centre for apparel interlinings in Italy starts on schedule https://textile-future.com/archives/81842
Companies
BASF achieves Leadership Status in CDP rating 2021 https://textile-future.com/archives/81840
Syngenta announces the expiration and final results of the Tender Offer for 4.375% Notes due March 28, 2042 https://textile-future.com/archives/81852
UBS: Decision by the French Court of Appeal https://textile-future.com/archives/81861
The H&M group’s sales development for full-year 2021 including fourth quarter https://textile-future.com/archives/81945
Inditex posts record levels of revenue, profit and cash for second consecutive quarter https://textile-future.com/archives/81974
The Saurer Group has appointed Uwe Rondé as its new CEO. With chairman Pan Xueping stepping down as CEO, Dr Rondé will take over the reins on January 1, 2022 https://textile-future.com/archives/82074
Data
3rd quarter 2021: 0.9 % increase in number of employed persons inm Switzerland; unemployment rate based on ILO definition fell to 5.1 % https://textile-future.com/archives/81826
EU Roundwood production up by 21 % in 20 years https://textile-future.com/archives/81877
EU residents sent EUR 34.1 billion in 2020 to non-EU countries https://textile-future.com/archives/81893
Farm to fork: new publication on the European food chain https://textile-future.com/archives/81997
EU Productivity indicators: New sections launched https://textile-future.com/archives/82002
EU Excess mortality on the increase in early autumn https://textile-future.com/archives/82014
EU
Schengen: New rules to make the area without internal border controls more resilient https://textile-future.com/archives/81874
Water and drought stress: Commission report shows water management progressing, but at slow speed https://textile-future.com/archives/81993
EU Commission mobilises the textile industry to upskill and reskill workforce https://textile-future.com/archives/82027
CO2 Emissions
Emission critical: the retail industry’s race to net zero https://textile-future.com/archives/81947
Flexographic
Japanese Printing Company Nabe Process Co., Ltd., Improves Efficiency with Asahi Photoproducts AWP™ Flexographic Plates https://textile-future.com/archives/81866
Gender
The COVID-19 crisis threatens fragile gains towards gender equality in G20 countries, says new report https://textile-future.com/archives/81870
Infrastructure
Empa: Switzerland’s built infrastructure under pressure – Rethinking Switzerland’s built infrastructure https://textile-future.com/archives/82021
Intellectual Property
Japanese Practice on Amendment -Patent – JPO accepts broader scope of amendment than other countries! https://textile-future.com/archives/81933
WIPO Launches New Global Awards Program; Small and Medium Enterprises Are First Category https://textile-future.com/archives/81969
Personalities
Pribramsky new AAPA Co-President https://textile-future.com/archives/81902
New Products
The world’s first EPS fish boxes based on chemically recycled plastics introduced in Norway https://textile-future.com/archives/81907
Recognition
AATCC Recognises Outgoing Officers https://textile-future.com/archives/81952
Robotics
IFR President’s Report by Milton Guerry – Review and Outlook https://textile-future.com/archives/81984
Scholarship
New Textile Scholarship for 2021-2022 https://textile-future.com/archives/82037
Spinning
Two-way track to optimum fibre cleaning https://textile-future.com/archives/81939
Sustainability
WTO: New initiatives seek to put environment at heart of trade discussions https://textile-future.com/archives/82012
Switzerland
80 % more deaths in Swiss nursing homes in autumn 2020 https://textile-future.com/archives/81837
Switzerland supports WTO initiatives to intensify work on trade and environmental sustainability https://textile-future.com/archives/82012
USA
Vice President Kamala Harris Announces New Investments in Northern Central America Highlighting NCTO Member Parkdale Mills at White House Roundtable https://textile-future.com/archives/81833
Worldbank
Worldbank – Global Community Steps Up with USD 93 Billion Support Package to Boost Resilient Recovery in World’s Poorest Countries https://textile-future.com/archives/81980