#Sustainability

2019-04-18

ISKO has officially become a member of Textile Exchange

ISKO seizes yet another chance to further expand its vision of a responsible and sustainable landscape in the industry, as its latest achievement involves joining forces with Textile Exchange: a global non-profit organization that focuses on minimizing the impacts of the textile industry on the world’s water, soil, air and people.

Moving forward in its journey to full responsibility, ISKO chooses the support of the non-profit organization to develop even more sustainable ways to tackle textile production.

Addressing gaps in current industry standards, at all levels of the supply chain – from farmers to manufacturers to retailers – Textile Exchange ensures that all the work done towards sustainability in the textile industry is genuine and leads to real and meaningful change.

Becoming member of Textile Exchange is evidence of how ISKO maintains an open dialogue with all the different stakeholders, shaping and developing more sustainable business models and more efficient practices. This same attitude is shared by Sanko Group, ISKO’s parent company and already a member of Textile Exchange.

This membership is the latest addition to ISKO’s already wide array of successes and certifications – the result of an ongoing drive inspired by its Responsible InnovationTM approach. On account of a holistic, responsible mindset with a longstanding focus on competence, creativity and citizenship, ISKO’s all-encompassing vision extends from the process chain and business model to the actual products, which range from patented technologies to traditional denim fabrics.

“We are thrilled for this latest accomplishment, which shows how ISKO paves the way for a sustainable business model that relies on tangible proof and actual results” says Ebru Ozkucuk Guler, ISKO Senior CSR Executive. “Textile Exchange will be a great support as ISKO pledges responsibility, transparency and accountability”.

ISKO’s path to Responsible InnovationTM

ISKO has a strong commitment to improving continuously, in part through external stakeholder engagement and partnerships with the most credible and leading organizations and experts in the world.

In May 2018, as part of this outlook on business ethics and environment, ISKO was the first and only Turkish manufacturer to become a signatory member of ZDHC foundation, highlighting the company’s will not to use any harmful substances in its products and facilities. This was in addition to ISKO’s longstanding commitment and work with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), as its sole member in the region. ISKO has fully embraced the SAC’s Higg Index tools to measure, verify and benchmark its environmental performance.

ISKO worked to obtain Life-Cycle Assessments (LCAs) for all 25,000+ denim products, evaluating their total life cycle from raw material to waste/recycling. To ensure the validity and replicability of these LCAs, it was the first denim manufacturer to get pre-certified EPD®s (Environmental Product Declarations), providing the water usage and carbon footprint of 1 square meter of fabric.

ISKO also prides itself on having developed the only fabric collection in the world to be awarded the stringent Nordic Swan and EU Ecolabel certifications: ISKO Earth FitTM, ISKO’s top end collection when it comes to a fully integrated sustainable approach. Embracing articles from all of its lines, it uses innovative and responsible fibers such as organic cotton, pre-consumer recycled cotton, and post-consumer recycled polyester from PET bottles.

Further to this, aiming at raising awareness and standards of environment and business ethics, ISKO is a member of SEDEX, a supply chain platform that allows brands and retailers to see how their suppliers are meeting their social and ethical responsibilities. As a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) and a signatory to the SLCP (Social & Labour Convergence Project), ISKO supports the development of the highest standards for employee rights, making sure to take into account worker welfare.

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