During 2024 SDG Asia Expo in Taipei, Taiwan, RESET Carbon hosted a pivotal panel discussion focusing on the challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing the apparel industry. As the urgency of climate action intensifies, this session brought together key industry leaders to share actionable strategies to implement carbon emissions reduction within the apparel supply chain. The panel was moderated by May Lee, Senior Consultant at RESET Carbon and featured experts Gulshan Kumar, General Manager of Lululemon Taiwan; Hanes Yang, Chief Sustainability Officer at New Wide Group; and Jo-Hwa Li, Chief of Sustainability and Certification Section at the Taiwan Textile Research Institute.
Key Highlights
- Integrating sustainability into corporate strategies: One of the central themes of the discussion was how companies can implement carbon emissions reduction by integrating sustainability into their corporate strategy, such as procurement strategy. Gulshan Kumar emphasized Lululemon’s sourcing strategy which integrates sustainability considerations into supplier performance reviews. Gulshan also highlighted the importance of brands supporting suppliers with addressing their sustainability performance gaps through continuous conversations and collaboration, two elements that are crucial to achieving meaningful carbon reductions.
- Policy, Regulations, and Incentives: Jo-Hwa Li provided valuable insights into how Taiwan’s regulatory landscape is evolving to support industry-wide decarbonization. “The government’s efforts to implement carbon pricing, enhance energy efficiency, and promote green financing not only drives compliance but also creates opportunities for companies to innovate and gain a competitive edge in the global market.” Jo-Hwa also drew attention to the crucial role consumers play in choosing products that are more sustainable in order to incentivize businesses to decarbonize.
- Benefits of a low-carbon supply chain: As brands look to meet their decarbonization targets, suppliers are at the center of this process. More and more brands have increased sustainability requirements for suppliers, such as providing environmental data and setting carbon reduction targets. As a prominent supplier in the apparel industry, Hanes pointed out the opportunities that apparel suppliers have by transforming into a greener and smarter supply chain. New Wide also looks to exceed their clients’ expectations thereby increasing their competitiveness and appeal as a manufacturing partner in the apparel industry.
Final Thoughts
May closed out the session by reemphasizing that “decarbonization is no longer just an environmental issue, but it is also a key strategic indicator for ensuring corporate’s sustainable growth.” RESET Carbon remains committed to supporting the apparel industry in achieving its decarbonization goals. We encourage businesses to take proactive steps in aligning with global sustainability standards and to engage with experts and stakeholders to navigate the complexities of this transition. Connect with our team to understand more about how you can engage with your supply chain.