Experts discuss sustainability-linked opportunities and challenges for Sri Lanka's textile and apparel sector

A Capacity Building Workshop on Sustainability Impact Measurement and Reporting for Sri Lanka’s Textile and Apparel Sector was jointly organized recently by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainable Development Council, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) and the Export Development Board.

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A key highlight of the Workshop was the Roundtable Discussion on ‘Aligning Business, Policy, and Investment Priorities for Sustainable Growth” that brought together representatives from the textile and apparel industry as well as business support organizations to share insights on important aspects relating to sustainable businesses such as role of standards, sectoral priorities, business and policy alignment and investment and incentivization.

Setting the Context, the Chair, Chamindry Saparamadu, Executive Director of DevPro and former Director General of the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka highlighted that in the backdrop of recent U.S. tariff policy changes which is threatening to disrupt market access for Sri Lanka’s textile and apparel sector, sustainability could be a gateway to UK and EU markets that place strong emphasis on sustainability-linked trade incentives such as traceability, decarbonization, and ethical labor practices. if the businesses align swiftly with those standards.