Inditex & International Apparel Federation Ink Agreement
One of the world’s biggest garment retailers, Inditex and the International Apparel Federation (IAF) have signed a framework agreement to drive transformation in the apparel and textile industry
“The agreement aims to promote a more respectful industry for people and planet by boosting circularity, traceability and worker wellbeing,” IAF said in a press release.
The agreement will drive significant transformation in the global garment industry through clear objectives and concrete lines of action to support the adoption of more sustainable practices and technologies.
This agreement paves the way for the development of projects that seek to improve working conditions, protect the environment, move towards circularity and promote transparency and traceability in the supply chain.
“Collaborating with apparel federations is the key to driving a change that reaches the entire industry, addressing both the social and environmental challenges ahead,” Inditex’s CEO, Óscar García Maceiras said.
“This agreement will allow us to continue developing and integrating best practices, foster innovation and invest in the most efficient technologies,” Maceiras added.
“We are thrilled that Inditex shares our vision of joining forces across the supply chain to advance sustainable transformational change in the apparel industry,” IAF President Cem Altan said.
IAF and Inditex have identified key areas of focus within this agreement. These include the advancement of industrial development in producing countries and the transition towards an industry that converts waste into new raw materials while striving for net zero emissions.
Furthermore, the agreement places a strong emphasis on enhancing working conditions. It involves collaborative actions on matters such as occupational health and safety, social protection, and diversity and inclusion.
It also includes cross-cutting aspects such as the creation of a common framework to measure and verify the impacts of the textile industry and encourage resilience and the adoption of transparency-enhancing practices, such as digital labelling.
Moreover, it explores the interoperability of information systems and promotes the digitalization and efficiency improvement of global supply chains, among other issues.
