Posts made in April, 2014

Dutch aWEARness: creating the first circular supply chain for textiles

“If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it,” enthuses Rien Otto, the charismatic founder of Dutch aWEARness, speaking to me from an international showcase of corporate clothing in Birmingham, UK. For him, Einstein’s famous quote perfectly describes his journey to helping Dutch aWEARness become the first textile company to establish a circular supply chain. One of the most resource-intensive industries on the planet, the $1.2tn global textile and apparel industry is built on complex linear supplier chains. Lack of visibility over what’s happening further down the...

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How is big business measuring social impact?

Progressive businesses are increasingly seeking to define their impact on society and tackle pressing social issues, from improving health and access to safe water in developing countries to creating education and work opportunities for underprivileged communities. The smartest among them are addressing those issues that are most important to the longevity of their business, building relationships in emerging markets and identifying tangible commercial opportunities by ‘doing social good’. Since the launch of the Social Stock Exchange (SSE) in June 2013, some companies, including...

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