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JAAF Insights

JAAF proudly supports the launch of the Clean Sri Lanka initiative

JAAF proudly supports the launch of the Clean Sri Lanka initiative, led by H.E. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the government. As a global leader in ethical and sustainable manufacturing, Sri Lanka’s apparel sector is well-aligned with the programme’s vision to create a greener, cleaner nation.

For decades, the apparel industry has championed sustainability through carbon-neutral production, renewable energy adoption, and waste reduction across its value chain. The Clean Sri Lanka initiative provides a powerful platform to continue this commitment, driving meaningful progress through collaboration with the government and stakeholders.

Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Project Award achieved by MAS Intimates

MAS Intimates’ people and community work was recognized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce recently, as they won the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Project Award for their pioneering project on – “Partnering for Disaster Risk Reduction, Resilience and Preparedness.” In 2014, when A-PAD SL initiated their multi-sectoral engagement to assist in developing a disaster framework for Sri Lanka, MAS Intimates opted to become a private sector member.

Citizens of Humanity’s new jeans are made with bio-dyes, and you can’t tell the difference

A French startup called Pili has developed a new dye from plant-based sugars that have a fraction of the carbon footprint of traditional, petroleum-based dyes. Citizens of Humanity Group, and eco-friendly luxury denim brand, has invested in Pili. Today, it is launching a new collection of Citizens of Humanity and Agolde garments that use its dyes. The striking thing about these new products is how they are indistinguishable from traditionally-dyed garments.

Sustainable Innovation: Turning Waste into Fabrics

As a country striving to sustainable development, Taiwan’s textile industry attaches great importance to introducing advanced technology and using recycled materials to produce environmentally friendly products in a circular way.

The textile industry is one of the largest polluters of fresh water and generates huge waste every year. Taiwan has been working hard to develop sustainable textile production methods to reduce the textile industry’s environmental impact.

Leading textile manufacturers, such as ACELON, Creative Tech Textile, Far Eastern New Century (FENC), Honmyue and Kingwhale, are playing an essential role in promoting a green manufacturing mindset.

New ESG directives/regulations

There are 4 (new) ESG directives/regulations

1. Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

2. Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)

3. Regulation on Deforestation-Free Supply Chains (EUDR)

4. EU Taxonomy Regulation (EU) 2020/852

Key ESG Regulatory Deadlines in 2025

Sustainability reporting requirements are changing this year. New expectations are coming from the ISSB and the EU, and other regulators around the world.

As sustainability shifts from a voluntary practice to a core reporting and business requirement, firms will need to change how they are thinking about implementation and action.

What’s Changing?

-Stronger Compliance Requirements → Voluntary commitments are turning into clear mandates.

-Harmonization of Reporting Standards → Companies will need to align with structured, global frameworks.

-Transparency as a Strategic Advantage → ESG data is becoming a business asset, strengthening relationships with investors, regulators, and customers.

📌 Why It Matters:

Businesses that get ahead of these changes will build trust, strengthen governance, and stay resilient in a shifting economic landscape. Reporting in 2025 must be more than compliance, it must be strategic action.

How is your organization preparing for the upcoming ESG reporting deadlines?

Your Guide to Sustainability Reporting Frameworks

In today's world, sustainability isn't just a buzzword—it's a business imperative. Companies, investors, and stakeholders are prioritizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations to ensure long-term value and resilience. But with so many frameworks available, where do you start?

This guide highlights key sustainability reporting frameworks that help organizations measure, manage, and communicate their impact effectively. Here’s a breakdown of the frameworks to know:

🔗 Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)

Facilitates collaboration among impact investors, supports knowledge-sharing, and provides resources like IRIS+, a go-to tool for measuring and managing impact.

📊 IRIS+

A free resource to help investors define, measure, and optimize their impact metrics for meaningful change.

🌍 Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

The most widely used sustainability reporting standard worldwide, GRI provides a universal language for organizations to disclose their environmental, social, and economic impacts.

📈 Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB)

Tailored for investors, SASB focuses on financially material ESG issues across 77 industries, bridging the gap between sustainability and financial performance.

🌱 Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

Helps organizations provide structured, transparent climate-related financial disclosures under four themes: governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics/targets.

🌟 Impact Management Project (IMP)

Engages over 2,000 enterprises to build a consensus around measuring ESG impact through five dimensions: What, Who, How Much, Contribution, and Risk.

🎯 Science-Based Target Initiative (SBTi)

Guides companies in setting climate science-aligned targets, helping to enhance profitability, investor confidence, innovation, and regulatory compliance.

Whether you're crafting your first sustainability report or refining your ESG strategy, each of these frameworks offers unique value for companies and investors alike.

📌 Pro Tip: Choose the framework(s) that best align with your organization’s goals, industry, and target audience.

Special thanks to Bethesda Green for creating this incredible visual resource. Together, let’s drive accountability, innovation, and sustainable growth in our industries. 🌿💡

How IFL is driving sustainability in RMG business! 

Ashna Huq, Director of Incredible Fashions Ltd. (IFL)

In an exclusive conversation with Apparel Resources (AR), Ashna Huq, Director of Incredible Fashions Ltd. (IFL), discusses the innovative sustainability strategies that IFL has implemented, the collaborations needed for meaningful progress and the future of sustainable practices in the industry.

Crystal’s 4Zero Collection – Denim Goes Green

Denim is a must-have apparel item in the fashion loop. Eco-friendly denim has become the new trend and is in the global spotlight. Crystal International Group Limited spearheads the manufacturing of sustainable denim products to make denim go green by adopting greener production methods. The eco denim factory of Crystal in China, Zhongshan Yida Apparel Ltd., has long been exploring new ways to sustainable manufacturing.

Recently, the factory has initiated a new sustainable denim collection named 4Zero: four “Zero” measures in the laundry process, including zero manual work, zero potassium permanganate (“PP”), zero hypochlorite and zero stone.

Trailblazer Programme 2025: Open Call for Early-Stage Innovators

The Trailblazer Programme invites early-stage innovators across all facets of the fashion supply chain to join a programme offering guidance for scaling and an opportunity to compete for an equity investment from PDS Ventures*. Upon submission of your application, a dedicated jury will review and select nine companies for the pitch round.

If you progress to the next stage as one of the shortlisted innovations, please be aware that your availability is required for a pitching workshop on 5 May 2025 followed by a pitching day to the jury. Furthermore, your availability to travel to and attend Global Fashion Summit: Copenhagen Edition 2025 on 4-5 June 2025 is essential.

Applicants will be reviewed and shortlisted by an esteemed Jury including representatives from PEPPER-i2, PDS Ventures, Ralph Lauren Corporation, Zalando, Fashion for Good and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Bringing clarity to the environmental performance of factories

In the past decade, the textile and footwear industry has spared no effort in identifying the key considerations for the environmental performance of the supply chain, particularly with downstream suppliers, and implementing the measurements required to drive continuous improvement. An on-site environmental audit is one such way to effectively drive actionable insights and improvement.

Three major topics addressed during an on-site audit are: wastewater/effluent treatment plant management, chemical management and hazardous waste management.

Achieve a sustainable workflow with Remote Colour Assessment

Achieving colour consistency from batch to batch is very challenging. Colour matching is not only a time-consuming and costly procedure but has a huge impact on the environment. Adopting digital colour assessment can reduce carbon footprint and improve colour consistency across the supply chain.

UKFT launches the Circular Manufacturing Report

UKFT is delighted to launch the Circular Manufacturing Report, which provides an overview of circular manufacturing in the UK textile and apparel industry. It explores current circular initiatives and practices in the sector and presents actionable steps manufacturers can take to integrate circularity into their products and processes.

The connection between manufacturers and brands is crucial to ensure that circularity practices are integrated throughout the supply chain. The report shows examples where brands are working to implement circular strategies in collaboration with manufacturers, creating a connected ecosystem, where products are designed and produced with circularity at their core.