Apparel, Mills, & Sundries Working Group

Leading apparel and retail companies have come together with their strategic mill and sundry suppliers to set a consistent set of expectations and to achieve fair, safe, healthy, and environmentally friendly working conditions.

The group is committed to moving away from a top-down, pass-fail audit approach to promoting transparency, knowledge sharing, and collaboration between buyers and suppliers.

By jointly developing one set of sustainability principles, diagnostic tools, and reporting mechanisms, the group is creating a sustainable model for boosting the bottom line while benefiting workers and the environment.

Benefits

• Get a first-movers advantage and shape forthcoming expectations from apparel brands
• Build brand equity with customers by demonstrating a good faith effort to work in partnership
• Reduce audits, standardize reporting, and save costs by embracing a single set of social and environmental guidelines
• Get support from apparel company members with decades of experience in monitoring and developing responsible business solutions
• Anticipate and meet growing consumer demands and NGO pressure for quality and ethical production