BANGALORE – High profile representatives from sportswear giants Nike and Adidas will be speaking at this month's Planet Textiles event in Bangalore, organised by MCL News & Media, the publishing company behind T.EVO. The question of implementation of clean textile technology in the dyeing and finishing sectors will be a major focus of a special breakout session at the forthcoming event, which takes place on 24 May.
Moderated by James Carnahan, head of sustainability at Swiss textile chemicals supplier Archroma, the session will demonstrate how the textile industry can accelerate implementation within the textile value chain. “Have we been able to eradicate the intentional use of chemicals hazardous to the environment and human health? Has the industry adopted technologies that minimise resources utilisation in the production of textiles? And what are the hurdles preventing overall adoption and implementation?” Carnahan will ask.
Other topics under discussion include additional investments required by stakeholders within the textile chemicals value chain, chemical inventory management, auditing to assure transparency and compliance, testing for quality control and educational programs.
Joining Carnahan in this interactive session will be Tracy Nilsson, senior director of social an environmental affairs for Adidas, who will reveal what actions the sportswear giant has taken with its T2 and T3 supply chain partners on this issue and the lessons Adidas has learnt in the process including key aspects of its chemical management programme, along with details of its commitments and key partnerships.
Elaine Gardiner from Pentland Brands – which includes labels such as Berghaus, Ellesse, Speedo and Kickers, among others, will represent the views of the highly-respected AFIRM Group. This collaborative organisation of leading apparel brands and retailers provides a forum to advance the global management of restricted substances in apparel and footwear, and helps to communicate information about RSL (restricted substance lists) to the supply chain.
Also slated to take part is Agata Kostecka, senior manager of sustainability sourcing Gap, which is extending its India Water Partnership programme, and wants to expand to 10 laundries later this year. She will be joined on the panel by Mohan Seneviratne, programme manager at the International Finance Corporation and the PaCT program in Bangladesh who will give real world examples of reducing resource consumption and wastewater pollution in Bangladesh textile mills.
India textile manufacturers will be represented by Alok Sharma, general manager at Ramkumar Textile Mills, which specialises in dyed and printed 100 per cent cotton fabrics and supplies leading retailers such as Marks & Spencer.
Meanwhile, we can also now confirm that John Rydzewski, director of global water programs, sustainable manufacturing and sourcing at Nike will join the ZDHC breakout session.
See the full Planet Textiles 2017 agenda here. Places at the event are now limited.
