Lectra-ESCP host round table on sustainable fashion

The Lectra-ESCP Europe Chair, inaugurated in February 2014, aims to develop and convey knowledge based on innovations within the fashion and luxury sectors, thanks to cutting-edge technologies.

In the run up to the launch of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 21), which will be held next month in Paris, Lectra and ESCP Europe sought to present some of the ongoing sustainable development changes in the fashion sector. The round table panelists included, Rémi Crinière, Head of Environmental and Social Responsibility H&M France; Dr. Helen Crowley, Head of sustainable sourcing innovation, Kering; Philippe Mangeard, European TK'Blue Agency President; Eva Zingoni, sustainable fashion designer as well as Laurence Jacquot, Director of Industrial Operations and Hardware R&D, Lectra.

The panelists agreed on a number of principles that allows the fashion industry to become environmentally sustainable more quickly and efficiently. These included, being one step ahead of consumers' behavior; the necessity of supply chain transparency; participating in cross-industry platforms in order to drive forward innovation; use technology that permits fashion brands to be more environmentally friendly as well as socially responsible, the release said.

“The fashion industry should be ahead of its time. Unfortunately, it has fallen behind as far as sustainable development is concerned,” Eva Zingoni pointed out. The clothing industry suffers from structural constraints, making it one of the least sustainable sectors. This impacts the entire supply chain, beginning with the production of raw materials to end-of-life product management via manufacturing conditions.

“A fashion company, such as Kering, has to manage worldwide and complex supply chains. We have already developed several actions and programmes to improve our understanding so as to better measure our impact and therefore reduce it step-by-step throughout the entire supply chain,” explained Helen Crowley. Kering, which is at the top of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2015 in the textile, clothing and luxury products sector for the second consecutive year, has decided to implement a more sustainable economic model that covers the entire span of its operations. To execute this strategy, the company uses an important tool, namely the environmental profit and loss account (E P&L), which is integrated into all of its brands.