Greenwashing your clothes? Addressing unsubstantiated sustainability claims in the garment and footwear sector

Feb 17, 2023 | 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Description

For many companies in the garment and footwear sector, product sustainability claims have been the answer to increased market expectations to prove their efforts. Recent investigations by consumer market authorities in the sector, however, found that product claims used by companies and retailers are often not sufficiently backed by product-specific data, were too generic or selective. The session aims to explore the types of claims used by companies and retailers and discuss the implications of unsubstantiated claims for companies and the industry at large. Panellists will discuss whether claims can become more credible by improved data collection, transparency, and awareness. They will also explore whether collecting specific and reliable data to back sustainability claims will remain impossible as long as supply chains remain volatile and complex.

Andrea Schill

OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct

Policy Analyst, Garment and Footwear Sector

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-schill/

Tonje Drevland

Norwegian Consumer Authority

Assistant Director, Supervisory Department

George Harding-Rolls

Changing Markets Foundation

Campaign Manager

https://twitter.com/GHardingRolls

https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-harding-rolls-49048536/

Jeremy Lardeau

Sustainable Apparel Coalition

Vice President of the Higg Index

Kristin Komives

ISEAL

Director of Programmes

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-komives-8278671a/

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