Footwear Insight

C OVID-19 hit just as the global fashion industry seemed to be correcting its course towards a more sustainable future. adidas, for example, invested heavily in sustainability practices across their supply chains, and thus saw a 52% reduction in CO2 emissions in 2019. For 2020, however, COVID-19 caused major disruptions to sales figures and production lines. According to the New York Times, apparel sales fell 79% in April aer the first wave of COVID-19 hit. e industry has rebounded since, but it is still not operating at full strength, and in mid-October, COVID-19 cases began resurging across the U.S. and Europe. To better understand how the pandemic has affected the fashion and textile industries' plans for improving sustainability standards, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and e Economist Intelligence Unit surveyed 150 executives of global textile and fashion businesses, including industry leaders like Puma, adidas, and the VF Corporation, which owns Vans, and Timberland. Respondents were unanimous that their firms wouldn't reduce their sustainability targets in response to the global crisis, even though 63% felt that an economic recession would lessen consumers' interest in sustainable goods. In fact, 60% of executives named sustainability as the second top strategic priority for fashion organizations, behind improving the customers' experience. The sur ve y showe d two ways t hat companies are building sustainability into their business during the pandemic. One was through investments, and the other was finding outside sources of data to track their progress. Seventy-three percent agreed that global standards and certifications help measure and evidence a brand's level of sustainability for consumers. But a quarter of respondents also saw a lack of available and easily accessible data as a barrier to collaborating on sustainability between brands. "For sustainability to be meaningful, the textile supply chain must demonstrate continuous improvement and data collection throughout the entire process." said Dr. Gary Adams, the President of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. "e Trust Protocol provides the transparency necessary to accomplish that." e U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol fills the farm-level data gaps that brands and retailers have struggled to collect in order to demonstrate their sustainability progress. In joining the Trust Protocol, members can prove, measure, and verify that the cotton fiber element of their supply chain is more sustainably grown with lower environmental and social risk. e Trust Protocol brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to sustainable cotton production and drives continuous improvement in six key sustainability metrics – land use, soil carbon, water management, soil loss, greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency. Brands and retailers can use this data to show progress against their pledges and goals. Enrolling in the Trust Protocol can help brands and retailers receive the data to ensure that the cotton fiber element of their supply chain is sustainable. e Trust Protocol provides evidence of sustainability credentials that are proven via Field to Market, measured via the Field Calculator, and verified with Control Union Certifications. It is aligned with existing sustainability programs including the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and is included on Textile Exchange's list of preferred fibers. Understanding the financial situation caused by COVID-19, e Trust Protocol is waiving dues until July 2021, which allows brands and retailers to use the interregnum as a pilot period. "Members of the footwear industry are as concerned about sustainability as those from the rest of the apparel community," said Tara Luckman, Director of Flourish CSR and a consultant for the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol. "As we've seen from footwear giants like adidas, they're committed to sustainable sourcing. e Trust Protocol can bolster their work in this area by giving access to full transparency of the cotton supply chain." To learn more, please visit TrustUSCotton.org ADVERTISEMENT Brands Remain Full Steam Ahead on Sustainability, Despite Pandemic In joining the Trust Protocol, members can prove, measure, and verify that the cotton fiber element of their supply chain is more sustainably grown with lower environmental and social risk. Photo: Zui Hoang @zuizuii

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