Eco code to provide point of difference
SYDNEY: The Australian TCF industry should develop an environmental impact code of practice to help it maintain a competitive advantage, according to a pair of Sydney fashion consultants.
Dominic and Serena Beirne, who together run consultancy firm Australian Fashion Partners (AFP), have called for the code to be established as a means of promoting best practice programs and providing guidance to TCF businesses on how to implement them.
The suggestion, contained in AFP's submission to the federal government's TCF review, would see the program run similar to the Homeworkers Code of Practice - complete with website - where businesses registered on the site and complying with the HCP would be eligible for tax concessions from state and/or federal governments.
While acknowledging the existence of the nosweatshoplabel.com website which aimed to encourage ethical manufacturing, the pair said part of the reason it had failed to attract more interest from TCF businesses was because of the fact registration fees were given to the Textile Clothing Footwear Union of Australia.
"The TCF sector needs an overriding federal legislative framework developed that codifies the government's expectations of the environmental impact and treatment of people in the manufacturing process across the entire TCF sector value chain.
"This should reinforce those requirements, across national boarders, ensuring Australian operated businesses set and comply with best practice ethical operations to lead the global market in the introduction of these initiatives thereby providing a potential sustainable competitive advantage in the global market," their submission noted.
Rise Up Productions founder Bronwyn Darlington, whose company designs and produces a range of sustainably and ethically manufactured products including a fashion line with profits going to registered charities, said environmental practices would be one of the most challenging elements facing the sector in the next few years.
While supportive of the concept of an environmental code of practice, Darlington said such proposals would only work if the federal government could offer additional support to emerging businesses.
"There is a lot to be gained from entering such an agreement but you would need to get buy in from some of the younger businesses. Financial incentives are a good idea but they would need to be in a way that supported all businesses not just by way of a tax break once they have earned over a [certain financial threshold]."
Such a code would also need to be in line with existing protocols to avoid it becoming "yet another additional audit process", Darlington said.
By Tracey Porter