Textile Exchange and KPMG Develop an SDG Roadmap for the Apparel, Retail and Textile Sector
Contact information:
Betty Cortina
Textile Exchange Marketing and Communications
bettycortinaweiss@gmail.com
Release Date: September 13, 2018
Download the Press Release Here
KPMG and Textile Exchange Develop an SDG Roadmap for the Apparel, Retail and Textile SectorThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) —a set of 17 universally agreed-upon goals addressing the top current environmental, social and economic issues—offer many business opportunities for companies while addressing critical operational risks, according to a new report produced by audit, tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP, in partnership with the non-profit organization, Textile Exchange, “Threading the Needle: Weaving the Sustainable Development Goals into the Textile, Retail and Apparel Industry.” Threading the Needle offers SDG guidance to apparel, retail and textile suppliers, brands and retailers on business considerations and opportunities for shared value, an SDG engagement model, best practices and multi-stakeholder initiatives, and considerations for top sourcing countries.“Threading the Needle is an important first step in understanding how existing industry initiatives can advance the 2030 Agenda, including adoption of more sustainable fibers and materials, responsible production and circular business practices”, said La Rhea Pepper, the Managing Director of Textile Exchange. ”The report provides a roadmap for companies seeking to realize the SDGs in their own sector and value chain”, said Anita Whitehead, principal for KPMG’s Development and Exempt Organizations (DEO) practice in the U.S. “The report aims to provide companies with guidance and information that will help prioritize their SDG focus where it can generate the most impact”.“Threading the Needle is an amazing information source for the apparel industry to tackle the global challenges of the SDGs. This valued toolkit supports my discussions with the textile supply chain and apparel brands as a starting point to integrate the SDGs into their sustainability platforms and goals. Collaboration is key for impactful change,” noted Tricia Carey, Director of Global Business Development for Lenzing AG. SDG Engagement Framework Threading the Needle identifies a “SDG engagement framework” which focuses on eight SDGs where the industry can have the most direct impact. The report provides representative case studies in which the SDGs are being implemented by companies. These examples are intended to demonstrate the first steps that companies can take to integrate the SDGs into their core business and value chain.Download the Report and Additional ResourcesThreading the Needle is available for download here and on the KPMG website and Textile Exchange website. Furtherinsights will be offered at the upcoming Textile Exchange sustainability conference to be held in Milan on October 23-24th. Additional information about the conference is available at TextileExchange.org/2018Conference.The UN Global Compact and KPMG developed the SDG Industry Matrix, a series of publications that profiled shared valueopportunities and aligned these to each SDG target. This report, Threading the Needle: Weaving the SustainableDevelopment Goals into the Textile, Retail, and Apparel Industry, builds on the SDG matrices to focus in on the uniqueopportunities for companies in the textile, retail, and apparel sectors to scale positive social, environmental, andeconomic impact through the SDGs.About KPMG LLPKPMG is one of the world’s leading professional services firms, providing innovative business solutions and audit, tax, and advisory services to many of the world’s largest and most prestigious organizations. KPMG is widely recognized for being a great place to work and build a career. Its people share a sense of purpose in the work they do, and a strong commitment to community service, inclusion and diversity, and eradicating childhood illiteracy. KPMG LLP is the independent U.S. member firm of KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”). KPMG International’s independent member firms have 197,000 professionals working in 154 countries. Learn more at www.kpmg.com/usAbout Textile ExchangeFounded in 2002, Textile Exchange is a global nonprofit that works to create leaders in the sustainable fiber and materials industry by providing learning opportunities, tools, insight, standards, data, measurement and benchmarking— and by building a community that can collectively accomplish what no individual or company can do alone. In addition, Textile Exchange manages and promotes a suite of six leading industry standards, including organic, recycled, responsible down and responsible wool content claims. The organization also collects critical industry data and insights, which is published through the annual Preferred Fiber & Materials Benchmark, a platform that enables brands and retailers to measure, manage and track their use of preferred fiber and materials. With more than 260 members that represent leading brands, retailers and suppliers, Textile Exchange has meaningfully accelerated the use of preferred fibers andincreased the adoption of standards and certifications across the global textile industry. Textile Exchange has also launched TextilesforSDGs.org, which offers guidance for SDG engagement, and includes a set of articles, videos, guides, mapping guidance and tools.
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