Showcasing its latest collections, including sustainability solutions at Munich Fabric Start, the Trimco Group also took to the stage at the event’s Keyhouse discussion forum to take a deep dive into compliance, regulation and the impact of greenwashing. The show was a hive of activity as industry colleagues discussed business opportunities and shared insights.

Exhibiting within the accessories area, A-TEX/Trimco Group shared its latest trims and packaging collections with visitors at Munich Fabric Start. The company’s sustainable options were also included in the reSOURCE area of the tradeshow, and visitors could hear more about Trimco’s innovative and unique supply chain traceability and transparency platform.

Furthermore, Trimco joined in the event’s discussions forum within The Keyhouse area. In a talk named ‘Does it really matter? Compliance, Traceability and Greenwashing’, Trimco Group’s sustainability and compliance director, Camilla Mjelde and Muchaneta ten Napel, founder and editor-in-chief of FashNerd.com discussed key topics such as regulation, the challenges of supply chain monitoring and what action brands can, and should, be taking.

The key outtakes include more regulation, certification and governmental incentivisation, as well as taxation, are pushing the industry towards better sustainability; consumer watchdogs and regulators are savvy to greenwashing and it is possibly one of the worst things a brand can do; brands need certification to avoid being accused or found guilty of greenwashing but there is great disparity in certification and regulation globally. Brands are struggling to keep up and finding it challenging to communicate their efforts to shoppers.

Some of the other outtakes include the French Decree, Norwegian Åpenhetsloven, EU textile initiatives, New York Fashion Act and more – many new initiatives are being adopted all over the globe; being compliant with all regulations is an almost impossible task, as different regulators’ initiatives sometimes contradict each other on key points, bringing international brands at crossroads. There needs to be more collaboration; getting started on the compliance journey can be a daunting task, which is in some cases, slowing the process down as brands do not know where to start; brands need to invest in the right team and tools or partners to help them navigate these complex requirements; more consistency and simplicity amongst regulators within the industry will also help to encourage more brands – large and small – to improve traceability and transparency; and industrywide it is important to make it as easy as possible for consumers to understand the end product’s sustainability credentials. Consistency and simplicity in how one communicates to shoppers will empower them to make an informed purchasing choice.

Trimco’s dedicated quality and compliance teams work hand-in-hand with major certification bodies globally, keeping up to date with changes in regulations and standards. This allows the company to support its customers with ongoing consultancy and products that are in line with and is regularly updated to stay in line with regulations.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)