Announcements

Textile Exchange announces the release of the #ResponsibleMohair Standard (RMS) alongside the first revision to the #ResponsibleWool Standard (RWS) that was originally released in 2016. Both the RMS and the RWS are structured around the Textile Exchange #AnimalWelfare Framework, which sets out the principles and expectations that guide and connect Textile Exchange’s animal welfare standards. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gVchmdsextile Exchange announces the release of the #ResponsibleMohair Standard (RMS) alongside the first revision to the #ResponsibleWool Standard (RWS) that was originally released in 2016. Both the RMS and the RWS are structured around the Textile Exchange #AnimalWelfare Framework, which sets out the principles and expectations that guide and connect Textile Exchange’s animal welfare standards.

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Textile Exchange is aware of the disturbing reports of forced labor coming out of the Xinjiang region of China. With all of the positive steps that we have seen in recent years for the textile industry to improve impacts on the planet and human wellbeing, it is truly disheartening to hear of any form of human rights violations.   Textile Exchange inspires and equips people to accelerate environmental sustainable practices in the textile value chain, which goes hand-in-hand with social responsibility expectations to ensure that all people's basic rights are respected. We applaud the companies that prioritize the transparency of their supply chains with globally recognized standards and that take immediate action when expectations are not met.   Textile Exchange believes that a strong supply chain starts with long-term investment that includes knowing your entire supply line, conducting thorough due diligence and using credible third-party Standards. In the case of forced labor in the Xinjiang region, we acknowledge that transparency may not be so clear due to the nature of the "re-education camps." Textile Exchange has been and will continue to work with other organizations that have expertise on this subject to provide the best information available to our Members.   The Fair Labor Association (FLA), a non-profit focused on promoting and enabling human rights in the supply chain, has created a briefing document on this issue, including recommended steps to follow that will help members think through this situation and ensure supply chains are free of forced labor practices. The FLA has also agreed to conduct a webinar for Textile Exchange Members on this topic, watch the Member Hub and your inbox for an invitation to join this webinar.   Textile Exchange will continue to closely monitor this serious and escalating situation and is available to support Members in navigating the challenges.

FAQ'S: Are any of the factories that have been identified certified to Textile Exchange Standards? As of the date of this release, Textile Exchange can confirm that none of the identified intities complicit in forced labor practices are certified to Textile Exchange Standards.   Apparel Insider reported that one of Textile Exchange's Board Members is involved with cotton production organizations in Xinjiang, is this true? One of our former Board members held an official role with an organization in Xinjiang at one time (this information was publicly listed on our online Board Directory). When Textile Exchange was asked about this, we approached the board member to obtain more information. He informed us that the organization he had formerly been involved with was inactive for quite some time, and that he was no longer engaged with them. As a result of that conversation, the board member's biography was updated online.   The board member officially retired from the company he worked for at the end of 2019 (which Textile Exchange knew about since the beginning of 2019) and thus retired from the Textile Exchange Board of Directors as a result because it was a company seat. The board member profile has subsequently been removed from the online directory, which is customary when a board member is no longer active. We appreciate the service of this Board Member to Textile Exchange and wish him a happy retirement.   Do any of Textile Exchange's Member companies source from the Xinjiang region?Textile Exchange Member's include a global representation of brands that source in almost every textile region in the world. For questions regarding specific members, we recommend that those companies be contacted directly.   Textile Exchange's focus is on inspiring and equipping people to accelerate sustainable practices, which includes encouraging best practices in sourcing and supply chain transparency. Just as this document covers, we applaud the companies that prioritize the transparency of their supply chains with globally recognized Standards and that take immediate action when their expectations are not met. We believe that a strong supply chain starts with long-term investment that includes knowing your entire supply line, conducting thorough due diligence, and using credible third-party Standards.   Textile Exchange encourages all Members to make these long-term investments and to review the recommendations from the Fair Labor Association. Members are also encouraged to join a webinar that we will jointly hold with them.   We are available to support Members in any way we can when they experience challenges.

Contact Us: Media or Communications: Donna Worley (Donna@TextileExchange.org), Director of Marketing Communications + Public Relations Membership Support: Membership@TextileExchange.org

We will evaluate proposals against our 2030 Climate+ strategy + our conference theme: Climate Action Now- Impact through Partnership. Deadline March 20. Learn more details + apply here: https://www.eiseverywhere.com/eSites/dublin2020/Homepage #TextileExchange20 #climateactionnow

In conjunction with the release of the Textile Exchange 2019 Material Change Index, GreenBiz has partnered with Textile Exchange to publish actionable insights for apparel and textile companies looking to source raw materials more sustainably.

The Material Change Index (MCI) by Textile Exchange tracks apparel, footwear + home textile sector’s progress toward more sustainable materials sourcing and alignment w/ global efforts like the #SDGs and the transition to a #circulareconomy. Discover more: http://mci.textileexchange.org

VF Corp. announced science-based targets to reduce emissions + a bold vision for #sustainablematerials: "We commit that 100% of our top 9 materials will originate from regenerative, renewable, or recycled sources by 2030." https://www.vfc.com/news/feature-story/67882/taking-the-lead-on-sustainability 

Textile Exchange, a proud signatory of the UNFCCC Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, shares a fundamental commitment to driving the fashion industry to net-zero emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement no later than 2050. We, the fashion company signatories to the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, ask the political leaders of countries with major fashion production and consumer markets to partner with us to bring the industry in line with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting average global temperature rise to 1.5 degree Celsius.