Everyone wants sustainability now, but it’s more of a process than an end game—involving short- and long-term buy-in from brands, retailers, suppliers, manufacturers and consumers.

In our 2023 Sustainability Report, we talk with Kerry Bannigan, executive director of the Fashion Impact Fund, who points out that just 12 of the 17 SDG targets are on track and that “we have stalled or gone into reverse on more than 30 percent of the SDGs.” Blame some years lost on the pandemic, but it’s also become apparent that the road to 2030 was a bit longer—with tougher terrain to traverse—than many had expected.

But fashion is a global affair, and we’re in it together. Execs from around the world are stepping up to the plate, weighing in on important topics like Bangladesh’s lack of worker rights and fair wages and what its future will look like without a focus on sustainability. Southeast Asia, where most garments are produced, is making substantial strides toward a more sustainable future, including a new textile recycling program in China, India’s “Sustainability Road Show” and more.

Brands and retailers are also key to the sustainability conversation, and some companies are doing a better job of achieving their goals than others—like Reformation and Everlane, which have made sustainability a part of their ethos—setting blueprints that laggards would be wise to follow. And what role do consumers play in all this? According to a survey by shopping rewards app Shopkick, only about half of respondents said they would still buy from a brand that wasn’t committed to sustainability, and 23 percent said they’d hold off on purchasing until the label produces a greener alternative.

Since the real work happens when the industry power players put their heads together, we got stakeholders in the room at our April Sustainability Summit to discuss technology’s role in the sustainability conversation, why sustainability can’t be achieved without traceability, the current resale economy and so much more. The panels are recapped in our special section.

Sourcing Journal’s 2023 Sustainability Report seeks to educate readers on why sustainability is more important than ever before, and what can be done now for a more sustainable world in 2030.

Download the report to discover:

• What initiatives Patagonia, Levi’s and The North Face took to top Kearney’s Circular Fashion Index as the brands most committed to fashion circularity
• Why the “S” in ESG is becoming increasingly important
• Which textile and fashion companies are featured on the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Startup Index
• Why consumers’ awareness and affinity for eco-friendly products is growing
• How ​​apparel brands are shifting their eco efforts in response to greenwashing accusations
• How secondhand clothing and recycled textiles will become a $9 billion sector by 2027