Exploring the critical need for stakeholders in man-made cellulosic fibre supply chains to urgently protect forestry, the topic of the podcast aligns with the ongoing ambitions of the Vancouver-based NGO, Canopy.
The environment NGO works with fibre producers accountable for 90 per cent of global supplies and continues to challenge these businesses to engage in responsible sourcing, conservation work and innovators creating ‘next generation’ alternative solutions.
Lenzing and Aditya Birla have set a new precedent for their efforts in-line with these targets. As such, the pair attained the first ever ‘dark green’ shirts.
Of the accolade, Van de Kerkhof said: “To be dark green, we are very proud.
“When we had our first meeting with Canopy, there was a long journey ahead of us and it required a lot of work and a lot of investment and of course the question is, do you get a return on these investments? I think the success of Canopy has had with the brands and retailers – committing to only buy from green shirts – encourages companies to invest and do the right thing when it comes to wood sources.”
Rycroft added: “I’d say that part of the reason Lenzing has a dark green shirt is because of the leadership that they have been taking not only on the raw material sourcing but also around next generation solutions.”
In January, Canopy unveiled a new action plan – Survival – A Pulp Thriller: A Plan for Saving Forests and Climate – that made a case for the rapid adoption of innovative alternative textile fibres.
You can listen to Rycroft’s ideas, and those of Van de Kerkhof, for attaining sustainable forestry by listening to the latest Big Closets, Small Planet podcast, produced by the Sustainable Fashion Academy.
That’s available HERE.
