Manufacturers take lead in industry-wide transformation

In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, global apparel and textile manufacturers have launched the Apparel and Textile Transformation Initiative (ATTI), placing manufacturers at the centre of efforts to address climate and environmental challenges across the supply chain.

The initiative, spearheaded by the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), was unveiled on Thursday during a panel session at London Climate Action Week.

Bangladesh and Turkey are the first countries to pilot ATTI through national chapters, with Bangladesh's leading trade bodies-the BGMEA and BKMEA-formally joining the programme.

The initiative is designed to reduce duplication of environmental requirements across brands and create scalable, country-specific solutions grounded in local needs but aligned with global sustainability goals.

The ATTI aims to provide structured, practical solutions for environmental transformation by ensuring manufacturers-rather than solely global brands-play a leading role.

Miran Ali, Managing Director of Bitopi Group and former BGMEA vice president, will serve as a key coordinator between the IAF, international brands, and Bangladeshi trade associations.

"Every buyer now asks for confusing and difficult-to-achieve renewable energy and sustainability targets. For a factory working with 10 or 12 buyers, it's impractical to meet so many varying environmental strategies," Mr Ali told The Financial Express.

The ATTI, he said, will help consolidate and streamline environmental strategies under one cohesive framework. Mr Ali also highlighted challenges faced by local manufacturers regarding repeated social audits.

"These are often carried out by the same auditors, collecting identical data for different clients, which disrupts production and consumes valuable time and resources," he noted.

Manufacturers, he added, are hoping to avoid such audit fatigue while tackling the sector's environmental impact.

Importantly, the initiative calls on global brands to participate in and co-invest in the industry's shift from carbon-intensive practices to renewable energy-based systems.

"The brands must be part of this transformation," said Mr Ali, "not just setting targets but also sharing responsibility."

In a statement, IAF Secretary General Matthijs Crietee remarked, "The launch of ATTI marks a new era in our efforts to transform the industry. Manufacturers are not just participants-they are leaders in developing the practical solutions our sector urgently needs."

ATTI introduces a structured global governance model with implementation led nationally through ATTI Country Chapters. National apparel associations will take the lead in tailoring transformation plans to their respective local contexts.

The initiative is designed to coordinate globally but act locally, engaging stakeholders at all levels-including manufacturers, brands, governments, financial institutions, and civil society.

Christian Schindler, Director General of the ITMF, stated that ATTI has a wide scope, tackling issues such as emissions, water use and discharge, chemical management, and waste. It aims to complement rather than duplicate existing sustainability efforts by offering a holistic approach based on real country-level needs.

The initiative follows a three-phase model: a comprehensive Needs Assessment to identify gaps and opportunities, a Collaborative Solutions Design involving all relevant stakeholders, and a Structured Implementation stage which will support targeted investments, policy development, clean technology deployment, and technical assistance.

Pilot ATTI chapters are already underway in Bangladesh and Turkey. In Turkey, a national assessment has progressed, and a meeting was held last week in Istanbul, bringing together manufacturers, brands, and government actors.

The group reviewed initial findings and prioritised joint actions, such as upgrading technology, improving access to finance, and engaging regulators.

By uniting diverse stakeholders under one coherent and practical framework, the ATTI is expected to pave the way for transformative change in one of the world's most carbon-intensive industries-starting with Bangladesh and Turkey, two key players in global apparel manufacturing.

Munni_fe@yahoo.com