The ASBCI Spring Conference 2017, entitled DOING THE RIGHT THING? Best practice for sustaining our people, planet and profits will take place on 5 April 2017 at the Marriott Hotel in Peterborough, UK. Ten years ago, a leading retailer Marks & Spencer launched its Plan A, placing sustainability on top of the global fashion industry agenda.

Since then the majority of big brands and retailers have implemented their own robust ethical and environmental sustainability programmes with the collective objective of protecting people and the planet. The best sustainability practices, processes and products are reducing waste, transport and material costs and boosting brand image, efficiency, customer loyalty and share prices.

The ASBCI sustainability conference has assembled speakers with experience of the most effective and commercial, sustainable initiatives and innovations.

Speakers

Rakesh Vazirani, Director – Product Traceability & Environmental Information Management, TUV, Hong Kong, will present on the topic: Are You Doing the Right Thing? Keynote speaker Mike Barry, Director Plan A, Marks & Spencer will discuss Plan A 10 Years On.

Prof Tim Cooper, Professor of Sustainable Design and Consumption, Nottingham Trent University, will present on Striving for sustainability in the clothing industry – an Overview of working with WRAP. Then, Robin Anson, Editorial Director, Textiles Intelligence, will discuss Fashioning Fibres for the Future. Graham Burden, Director, Sustainable Textile Solutions, will in turn present on the topic entitled: Cottoning On.

Kiccking off the second part of the conference, Elaine Gardiner, Sustainability Manager, Berghaus, will inform the audience on Water Use in the Textile Supply Chain. Following that, Guido Rimini, Head of Marketing, Apparel Europe, Freudenberg Performance Materials Apparel SE & Co. KG, will present Sustainability Together. Ross Barry, Lawrence M Barry & Co will talk about Closing the Loop. Finally, Tara Luckman, Fabric & Sustainability Manager, ASOS.COM, will discuss Supply Chain Transparency – What have you got to lose? The conference will finish off with concluding remarks from Dr Alistair Knox, ASBCI Chairman.

ASBCI

The Association of Suppliers to the British Clothing Industry (ASBCI) was formed in 1992, arising from the British Interlining Manufacturers Association. Since 1992, the ASBCI has grown from 20 members to over 100 including some of the most prestigious names within the clothing and textile industry, forming a huge pool of expertise.

The ASBCI is concerned with new technology, new ideas and new care labelling standards; and has an effective representation of members' interests in the UK, European and International standards committees.

The Association organises a series of specialist conferences and seminars throughout the year on various key subjects where delegates can be ensured of a full programme of dedicated presentations and papers on the headline subject.

www.asbci.co.uk