Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) products play an increasingly important role in the everyday lives of ordinary Australians. Many important initiatives are being undertaken here and around the globe to promote sustainability and ethical supply.

You can also help by asking these simple questions when you get dressed in the morning...

  • Am I wearing Australian made?
  • Is it ethically produced?
  • What is the environmental impact of producing this article?

250x250 cef webtile bw

Clean Energy Future

The Australian Government’s official website that outlines the Government’s plan for a prosperous and sustainable Australia.

Clean Energy Future links to all the programs and initiatives administered by various government departments under the Clean Energy legislation, and has a section on Assistance for Industry.

Find the website at www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au.

Read more about Funding for Energy Efficiency Projects in textile, clothing and footwear HERE.

 

2447284354 5a9ff27549 b

Re.Design Sustainable Fashion Forum

  • Let’s re-think how we design and make a product.
  • What can we do to re-duce the negative impact our industry has on the environment?
  • How can we re-cycle not just our waste, but the wisdom from the past?
  • What can be done to re-innovate and keep businesses viable?
  • How can we re-design a sustainable future for our industry?

Held in June 2012, Re.Design introduced several key elements of designing and producing a more sustainable product. Speakers included Zero Waste Fashion Designer, educator & researcher Holly McQuillan, and local sustainable designers Ellie Mucke (MuCKE), Alex Trimmer (SOSUME), Natalie Dillon (3Fish) and Kelly Elkin (ALAS).

Read more about the speakers HERE.

 

eco logical evolution logo big bw

[eco]logical evolution

TFIA partnered with Sustainable Fashion Australia at 2011's Fashion Exposed in Melbourne to present a three day workshop and seminar series on sustainability in the textile and fashion industries.

Seminars featured the best in Australian sustainable fashion, including Natalie Dillon (3Fish), Alex Trimmer (SOSUME), Samantha Hardman (Bento), as well as an industry perspective from Karen Webster (ex LMFF, now RMIT Fashion & Textiles), Cameron Neill (Net Balance), Simon McCrae (Ethical Clothing Australia) and TFIA CEO Jo Kellock.

All the sessions were recorded, thanks to Kealey Nutt from Eleven & Twelve. Watch HERE.

 

flax seedsbw

Sustainability Roundtable

TFIA, St James Ethics Centre & Ethical Clothing Australia hosted two National Garment Industry Sustainability Roundtables in 2010 to discuss the findings of the Brotherhood of St Laurence's "Natural Fibre Garment Roadmap" which traces the global production of a wool & cotton garment.

Following the second roundtable - 'Building Consumer Confidence in Textiles & Fashion Sustainability' - TFIA issued a discussion paper, "TCF Industry Submission on Product Safety and Safe Chemical Use" which made 7 key recommendations for developing new rules, goals and paradigms to guide the operations of TCF and related Australian businesses and to encourage them to dig deeper into their existing supply chains.

Read more - St James Ethics Centre media release: 'Australian garment industry puts sustainability high on the agenda'.

 

eca logo

Ethical Clothing Australia

Ethical Clothing Australia provides ethical brands and clothing manufacturers with a way to help ensure legal obligations and standards are met throughout the supply chain.

The ECA website has a section for manufacturers and brands explaining the accreditation process, as well as an Ethical Shopping guide for consumers, including a list of accredited brands.

Find the website at www.ethicalclothingaustralia.org.au

 

gbr tm logo strapline bw

Good Business Register

St James Ethics Centre and the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia (COSBOA) have set up an online platform called the Good Business Register, which provides small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) with a free and easy way to report on their responsible and sustainable business practices.

By joining, SMEs can create their own responsible business and sustainability report and get listed on the Good Business Directory for free in a few easy steps.

Get active, be noticed, be seen by your customers and suppliers today.

Find the website at www.goodbusinessregister.com.au.

 

banksiabw

Banksia Environmental Foundation

The Banksia Environmental Foundation, established in 1989, is a national not-for-profit organisation that promotes environmental excellence and sustainability through its Awards program and other associated events.

The Banksia Environmental Awards are regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia. The Banksia Environmental Foundation also organises the Prime Minister's Environmentalist of the Year Award, the Environment Minister's Young Environmentalist of the Year Award, the Mercedes-Benz Research Award, Brian Robinson Fellowship and is in partnership with other Environmental and Sustainability Awards.

Find the website at www.banksiafdn.com.

 

cotton connectbw

CottonConnect

CottonConnect is an organisation with a social purpose - delivering business benefits to retailers and brands by creating more sustainable cotton supply chains. Created by a unique collaboration between C&A, Organic Exchange & Shell Foundation.

Find the website at www.cottonconnect.org.