Strategic Partnership Launched to Promote Sustainable Supply Chains for the Textile and Fashion Industry in Singapore

A three year strategic roadmap to promote fashion supply chain sustainability and responsible procurement is being launched in Singapore on Tuesday 30 November 2021 between the Textile and Fashion Federation (TaFF) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).  
 
This partnership will drive greater awareness among TaFF members, partners and stakeholders, of the importance of legal and sustainable sourcing of forest-derived fibres for materials such as textile, packaging and natural rubber. 
 
Fashion supply chain sustainability and responsible procurement are critical to make sure that we all benefit from the many products that forests provide now, while ensuring these forests will be around for generations to come.
 
It is now widely recognised by the business community that consumers expect brands to be environmentally friendly. Across the world, the fashion industry is responding.
 
This is also in line with the UN Fashion Charter for Climate Action, committing the industry to cut greenhouse gas emissions through global supply chains by 30% by 2030.  
 
PEFC has been working with designers and the fashion industry for some years to show how fibre from sustainably managed forests can be turned into fashionable garments, demonstrating sustainability every step of the way.
 
The strategic partnership with TaFF makes perfect sense, as it draws on PEFC’s experience in managing a global campaign “Fashions Change, Forests Stay”, which recognises that forest fibre from responsible sources are already starting to be used in fashion design, In Europe and Asia.  
 
"It is important that fashion brands and retailers have the assurance that the wood-based fibres that they are using are indeed sourced sustainably. A discerning brand/retailer and consumer will look for international certifications. And such assurance can help consumers narrow the gap between the price premium for sustainable clothes and their willingness to pay," said Carolyn Poon, Director, Sustainability, Textile and Fashion Federation (Singapore).
 
APR/RGE and PEFC will be among the organisations exhibiting at Design Orchard for the TaFF event on Tuesday 30 November.