In a survey of 450 CEOs, 60% said they have a strong affinity for issues such as gender equality, circular economy, climate change, and the workforce of the future.
Sustainability and the circular economy, which a few years ago were almost ignored practices, quickly climbed among the priorities of the most prominent companies in Latin America and the world, and came to be among the aspects that receive the most attention today.
Furthermore, 45% of business leaders in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico said they already have a sustainability strategy in their organizations; and 22% said they are working on one, placing this issue as a priority agenda among corporations in the region.
The CEOs' responses suggest that sustainability is not seen as a "standalone program" but as a cross-cutting or multidisciplinary issue, a way of approaching business.
Today, it's difficult not to link a company's profitability and economic development to its sustainability policy. This is not only because a sustainable business is one that can be sustained in the long term, but also for several other reasons: customer preference when choosing products and brands, talent attraction, and regulatory compliance. In all these areas, a sustainable company will have advantages over one that is not.
In the case of the textile industry, which is the second most polluting industry in the world after the oil industry, achieving a balance between nature and textile production is paramount.
The current trend is to develop textiles and materials derived from organic waste. Furthermore, textile companies are adopting new practices such as considering the entire life cycle, avoiding animal testing, and aligning their daily operations with a sustainable lifestyle and contributing to the fight against climate change. In Mexico, only 0.5% of textiles are recycled annually; on average, each person throws away 3 kg of clothing, of which only 15 grams are recovered. This is why it is important to innovate with organic fabrics that reduce pollution.
They are made with fabrics manufactured from PET bottles, which is one of the most convenient ways to recycle plastic bottles. Furthermore, in practical terms, there is no difference between traditional polyester and recycled polyester.
During the recycling process, the fiber is reconstituted at a molecular level, and therefore recycled polyester is just as strong, durable, and has the same properties as virgin polyester. The main difference between the two polyesters lies in their environmental impact; PET has a significantly lower environmental impact than traditional polyester.
They are made with fabrics made from recycled textiles; That is, they are made from regenerated waste from post-consumer cotton garments.
Natural fibers like wool and cotton can be mechanically recycled, but the process reduces the length and quality of the fibers, which is why virgin fibers need to be added. These virgin fibers serve as a supplement, since it is not currently possible to include 100% recycled materials in garments.
Controlled Garment Destruction Program:
With this service, we prevent post-consumer uniforms from having a negative impact on the planet and our client's corporate image. The aim is to prevent our clients' uniforms from being discarded, polluting the environment, or falling into the wrong hands, damaging their corporate reputation.
The program begins with GDI collecting the uniforms or the client shipping them. A garment destruction process then commences, ensuring that obsolete uniforms are not misused. Clients receive photographic evidence and documentation certifying the complete destruction of the garments. The resulting material is reprocessed to create new byproducts, such as carpet fabrics, upholstery yarns, and other items.