Apparel firms urged to link sustainability to value

ATHENS – Sustainability teams at global apparel companies need to present their work in the language of business value if they are to secure investment amid persistent inflation, tariffs and weaker consumer spending, according to Sean Cady, vice president of global sustainability, responsibility, trade and government affairs at VF Corporation.

The executive from VF, which owns brands such as The North Face, Vans, Timberland and Eastpak, was speaking at the Cascale Annual Meeting here in Athens, and noted how brands, retailers and manufacturers were facing rising input, transport and energy costs while consumers had less disposable income.