The edie23 event highlights the importance of data and transparency in sustainability

The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol recently attended and actively participated in edie23, an event held in London by the purposedriven business media brand edie. Formerly known as the Sustainability Leaders Forum, the event, now in its 13th year, focuses on driving tangible environmental and social change through business leadership. Over the course of two days, attendees had the opportunity to listen to experts and sustainability professionals discuss the challenges we face and innovative solutions that can help companies become more responsible and transparent.

This year's theme, "Leadership Through Crisis," centered around the transition to net-zero and sustainability strategy. The event featured multiple tracks and sessions aimed at educating and inspiring participants by providing insights and opportunities to learn from others' experiences.

One noteworthy session explored the importance of transparent communications and the need for companies to be honest with their customers. In an era of greenwashing, consumers are more likely to trust a brand that not only celebrates its successes but also openly acknowledges the work that still needs to be done and the challenges ahead. The Director of

Consumer Protection from the Competition and Markets Authority in the UK emphasized the necessity for increased confidence in tackling greenwashing and greenhushing publicly.

As a program dedicated to contributing to the protection and preservation of the planet through sustainable and responsible techniques, the Trust Protocol was proud to present a case study during the conference. Tara Luckman, Special Advisor to the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol, delivered a presentation titled "Measuring and improving the environmental footprint of cotton in the U.S." Tara emphasized the significance of environmental data in avoiding greenwashing and stressed the need for metrics and transparency in the fashion industry's supply chain.

During her presentation, Tara highlighted two key issues within the fashion industry. Firstly, the lack of verified data hinders the ability to make informed decisions regarding where efforts and resources should be invested to align with global goals on climate change and sustainable development. Secondly, the lack of transparency in the supply chain prevents brands from guaranteeing factual information about their products if they do not have knowledge of their origin and route.

Throughout the conference, participants engaged in detailed discussions and sought input from peers and colleagues to address tough questions about sustainability.

The event underscored the importance of industry collaboration as we strive to continually improve our environmental footprint, and the Trust Protocol takes pride in being a part of this collective effort.