Project SU.RE: Step towards Sustainability

Fashion Industry is considered as one of the most polluting industry. Fashion brands globally and locally, has expressed their commitment towards clean environment and sustainable development. In an important step towards Sustainability, the Ministry of Textiles in India had launched Project SU.RE.

What is SU.RE?

SU.RE  stands for ‘Sustainable Resolution’, is a move towards sustainable fashion. The SU.RE project is a commitment by India’s apparel industry to set a sustainable pathway for the Indian fashion industry and contribute towards cleaner environment.

The Project was launched by Textiles Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, at Lakmé Fashion Winter/Festive 2019, in Mumbai on 22nd August, 2019 in collaboration with Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI); United Nations in India; and IMG Reliance, the organizers of Lakmé Fashion Week.

Why sustainability?

Sustainable Fashion is expected to result:

Reduction in carbon emissions

Increase resource efficiency

Tackle waste and water management

Create positive social impact to achieve long-term sustainability

The step towards Sustainability makes a business responsible and also smart. The Sustainability Report 2018 stated that sustainability is the 4th criterion considered by consumers while choosing products.

As quoted in press release on SU.RE, “The future of design is foremost about design with a future. Without sustainable supply chains, the fashion industry will become less and less viable."

What will be the impact of SU.RE?

 Project SU.RE opens a new dialogue to accelerate concrete actions for sustainability and climate action, and reduce environmental costs, through the entire value chain of clothes manufacturing.

16 Retail brands like Future Group, Aditya Birla Retail, Arvind Brands, Raymond, W, Biba, 109F, Levi’s, Bestsellers, Spykar, Westside, Trends, Shoppers Stop, fbb, House of Anita Dogre and Lifestyle and Max has joined the movement that aims to develop sustainable sourcing policy for consistent prioritising and utilising certified raw materials that have a positive impact on the environment.

The signatories have pledged to source/utilize a substantial portion of their total consumption using sustainable raw materials and processes, by the year 2025. It will address the needs of an increasingly conscious consumer who would prefer to buy from a brand that is environmentally conscious and engages in environmental protection. It will also underline the need for collaboration across the sector in order to bring about innovation and transformative change.

Pledge of Sustainability

 

The five-point Sustainable Resolution is as follows:

1. Develop a complete understanding of the environmental impact of the garments being currently produced by our brand.

2. Develop a sustainable sourcing policy for consistently prioritizing and utilizing certified raw materials that have a positive impact on the environment.

3. Make the right decisions about how, where, and what we source across the value chain by selecting sustainable and renewable materials and processes and ensuring their traceability.

4. Communicate our sustainability initiatives effectively to consumers and media through our online and physical stores, product tags/labeling, social media, advertising campaigns and events.

5. Through these actions, shift a significant percentage of our supply chain to a sustainable chain by the year 2025, addressing critical global issues such as climate change, contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and building a world that is safe for the future generations, as an acceptance of a responsibility we all share.

This pledge will send a strong message to various stakeholders and producers in the apparel supply chain and encourage a wider sustainable approach to production that reduces the impact across environmental and social dimensions.

 As a part of the Project, Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI) in partnership with IMG Reliance hosted the first SU.RE B2B workshop on Sustainable Supply Chain where representatives of 16 signatory brands.

Click here to see the press release of launch.