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H&M, WWF team up to tackle water issues in Turkey

01 Sep '17
2 min read
Courtesy: H&M
Courtesy: H&M

Swedish apparel retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) has teamed up with Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) to tackle water challenges in Turkey. Building on the success of previous partnerships in China and Bangladesh, the project will focus on improving water management methods and policies in the Buyuk Menderes river basin in southwestern Turkey.

Buyuk Menderes river basin is home to large-scale agriculture and industry, including textile operations, as well as rich biodiversity. Like many other river basins, Buyuk Menderes suffers from declining water quality and could face increased water stress in future due to climate change and development.

The initiative will involve collaboration with policy makers and other companies in Turkey and will focus on promoting clean production technologies in the textile sector as well as demonstrating the value of water stewardship. H&M will also influence its suppliers to invest in clean production and better water management.

"Turkey’s textile industry is booming but it faces serious risks from pollution, poor water management and weak regulations: collective action is needed now to mitigate these risks," said Daniel Robertsson, head of corporate engagement at WWF Sweden and responsible for the H&M-WWF partnership. "WWF and H&M group have already helped to strengthen water management in China and Bangladesh and we believe our partnership will contribute to similar improvements in Turkey."

"Being one of Turkey’s largest textile buyers, H&M group has a strong incentive to influence the development of more sustainable water use in the country’s textile industry," said Anna Gedda, head of sustainability at H&M group. "In addition to the work we do on a regular basis to improve water management practices in all of our facilities, we will engage our suppliers in cleaner production programmes in the basin and try to inspire others by sharing best practices."

WWF and H&M group first joined forces in 2011, focusing on water stewardship. The partnership was the first of its kind, as it took the whole supply chain into account and went far beyond the factory lines. The aim was to raise awareness, to improve responsible water use throughout H&M’s entire supply chain and to inspire other companies to take action towards more responsible water management. Their partnership has begun to transform H&M group’s internal water management as well as engaging suppliers, policy makers, NGOs, communities and other companies to collectively advocate for more sustainable water use in specific river basins in Asia. (RR)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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