At present, the textile and garment industry is preparing for the transformation of circular economy. With China pledging to achieve 25% recycling of waste textiles by 2025 and the EU implementing the Sustainable Product Ecodesign Regulation, the industry's shift to circular business models is bound to come under increasing regulation. How to jointly promote the textile industry towards a sustainable and circular economy future through multi-stakeholder dialogue is particularly important.

On October 24, the "Textile industry Supply chain Responsibility and circular Economy Special Conference" was held in Shaoxing. The conference discussed and exchanged views on how social and environmental responsibility in supply chains can be applied to the textile cycle and all aspects of the industrial chain. More than 160 representatives from international organizations, industry associations, domestic and foreign enterprises and academia attended the event.

Liang Xiaohui, chief researcher of Social Responsibility Office of China Textile Industry Federation, presided over the meeting. He said that the circular economy has expanded the supply chain of the textile and garment industry, from the raw materials and production end to the circulation end of the middle way and to the consumption end of the back road, practitioners and forms of cooperation have changed, which also brings new opportunities and challenges for the textile and garment industry to promote a more responsible and sustainable circular economy.

Multi-party construction to guide the harmonious transformation

Yan Yan, vice president of the China Textile Industry Federation, said in his speech that as the textile industry introduces more circular technologies and processes, the circular economy continues to develop, new players and processes will be incorporated into a wider range of supply chains, and new business relationships and processes related to the circular economy will bring additional environmental and social risks. There is a need for the industry to re-examine the upstream and downstream aspects of corporate activities and their social and environmental responsibilities for responsible management, and stakeholders need to work together to manage the risks associated with the extension of the supply chain.

She pointed out that to achieve harmonious transformation and promote the coordinated development of the environment and society, not only requires enterprises to improve their own strategies, and constantly explore the practical application and related risk management under the circular economy model, but also requires domestic and foreign policy makers to guide the harmonious transformation, strengthen the deep communication among stakeholders, and promote the effective cooperation of the industry in the field of circular economy.

Chen Jun, deputy head of Keqiao District, Shaoxing City, said in his speech that with the further implementation of the concept of sustainable development in the global textile supply chain, circular economy is gradually becoming the mainstream model of industrial development. Market practitioners are constantly striving to reach a clear consensus: in the whole cycle of the product, from raw material production to product marketing, from production to recycling, from the whole chain to apply the most appropriate sustainable production methods, to minimize the damage to the environment and society.

He pointed out that at present, more and more traditional textile enterprises in Keqiao are undergoing green transformation. In the future, Keqiao will fully support the development of textile circular economy, encourage enterprises to improve the supply chain ESG risk management ability by building a due diligence management system, carrying out risk control, information disclosure and transparency, strengthen the upstream and downstream collaboration of the supply chain, and build a circular low-carbon, responsible and sustainable textile and garment supply chain.

Strengthen exchanges and jointly promote responsible development

"Responsible business practices are becoming the prerequisite and market standard for a sustainable future." Tamas Hajba, Representative of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in China, shared the topic of "OECD Standards for Responsible Business Conduct and Cooperation with China". He said the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct by Multinationals are recommendations from governments to multinational companies to enhance their contribution to sustainable development. Over the years, the OECD has worked with the China Textile Association to promote responsible business practices in the industry and to help companies strengthen their due management capabilities in their operations and supply chains to ensure responsible business activities and a sustainable and stable cross-border supply chain.

He pointed out that the current challenges facing the development of the industry are even greater than ten years ago. In this regard, he called for strengthening international cooperation and exchanges between industries in the context of circular economy, and making new commitments to the responsible development of the industry through joint efforts to promote industrial economic development.

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