Belgian fashion CEOs visit Ghana’s textile waste mountains and commit to sustainability
CEOs from Belgian fashion companies have travelled to Ghana to gain a clearer understanding of the problems surrounding textile waste. During their visit, they signed a charter for a fairer fashion chain, Flanders DC, the Flemish design and fashion centre, reports.
The participants are a mix of small and large companies, including Bel&Bo, Claes Retail Group, e5 Fashion, Atelier Noterman, PLUTO, Torfs and Xandres. According to Flanders DC, it is the first time the Belgian fashion industry has made such a large-scale commitment.
In Ghana, they signed a Charter for Responsible Supply Chain Management in Belgian Fashion, a commitment by the brands to greater transparency and traceability in supply chains. They also discussed improving working conditions and reducing environmental impact.
"If everyone sweeps in front of their own door, together, we can clean the whole street"
Those who signed the charter will be required to report annually on their efforts and progress. The aim is to have more Belgian fashion companies join the charter in the coming months.
“What we saw in Ghana is unacceptable, and action must be taken,” said Ann Claes, CEO of the Claes Retail Group. “It feels like an impossible task, especially for us as small players. But if everyone sweeps in front of their own door, together, we can clean the whole street.”
Ghana is one of the main destinations for discarded clothing from around the world, with 15 million garments arriving weekly. Some of these find a new life through the second-hand market in Kantamanto, home to some infamous waste mountains, but nearly half end up in landfill or the ocean, or are burned.
#FlandersNewsService | Fashion brand Bel&Bo © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR
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