The global apparel market is enormous. Clothing is necessary, and consumers have never had more choices in what they wear. Unfortunately, the apparel industry–one of the world’s most economically vital industries–is also one of the world’s most environmentally damaging.
The negative environmental impacts of apparel are mainly due to how textiles are made, obtained, and wasted.
But what are textiles? They are the materials that makeup everything we wear.
Textiles are made from polyester and cotton and can be created in various patterns, colours, and textures. Textile creation uses a lot of resources and can negatively impact the environment.
The textile industry has a long history of wasteful practices before and after clothing production. With proper planning and tools, apparel companies can use textiles without harming the environment.
What steps can apparel companies take to reduce their environmental impacts?
Consumers are increasingly demanding that apparel companies provide them with sustainable clothing options.
The mainstream market has embraced sustainable fashion, with searches for such products increasing and retailers like Nordstrom jumping on board.
Apparel companies should use sustainable practices to benefit their businesses, consumers, and the planet.
There are many ways for fashion brands to reduce the environmental impact of their operations. Some solutions require manufacturers to be more thoughtful about obtaining and using textiles.
Purchasing textiles made with organic cotton or from producers with high environmental ratings can help minimize a brand’s carbon footprint. Buying excess fabric that is disposed of properly decreases the likelihood that it will damage the environment during creation or afterwards.
Companies can also source from textile manufacturers located nearby, which reduces their carbon emissions during transport.
Another way to reduce textile waste is by planning and reporting any excesses.
By tracking previous sales and material requirements, clothing manufacturers will better understand how much and what they need to make. To make these changes, apparel manufacturers need help from an organizational standpoint.
How an Acumatica ERP system can help
It can be challenging for apparel businesses to determine where to begin when attempting to reduce textile waste.
Business planning tools like ERP systems are a good starting point for apparel businesses. Manufacturing features can help companies plan precisely how much fabric they need to make clothing. It will result in less fabric waste and scrap during manufacturing.
Information about consumers’ buying patterns can help apparel companies understand what consumers want in the future so that they will not create clothing that does not sell. It means these items will be sold, and the textile used to make them won’t need to be disposed of or go unused.
Finally, ERP systems help businesses run smoothly from end to end. And when a company is running smoothly, business owners can spend more time focusing on sustainability efforts like recycling and reducing waste.
For example, using scrap fabric to make new pieces or researching ways to minimize the environmental impact of shipping.
The environmental damage caused by the textile manufacturing industry and its waste products is irreversible.
For decades, textile manufacturers and apparel companies viewed textile waste as an inevitable byproduct of the business. But now, consumers have begun demanding more sustainable clothing options. If apparel companies continue to use wasteful practices, they risk losing customers. Thankfully, Tools like Acumatica ERP systems can help businesses improve efficiency, reduce their carbon footprint, and improve financials.
Vijay comes with a vast experience in ERP and enterprise solutions space with about 20 years of experience in various packaged application like Acumatica, SAP, Orion, Salesforce.com, SugarCRM and, SalesLogix.