In an effort to deliver transparency when consumers demand it most, denim mill Isko launched its first Sustainability Impact Report.
The report documents the ways Isko is achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and International Labor Organization (ILO) standard frameworks, and illustrates sustainable initiatives and ties each one back to a specific goals.
Isko’s new laser-friendly finish, Vulcano, supports SDG 6 (lean water and sanitization). The company’s R-TWO concept, which uses reused cotton and post-consumer recycled polyester, speaks to SDG 12 (responsible consumption and production). The company’s starting wages—which are three times the legal minimum wage in Turkey—supports SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). Currently, the monthly minimum wage is 2,324 Turkish liras, or approximately $340.
The report also describes Isko’s commitment to responsible innovation and production, and provides details on the ways it manages its environmental impact, oversees supply chain processes, uses raw materials and implements better health and safety standards.
Control Union Certifications, a third-party auditing company, verified all data included in the report.
“Our goal is to create fabrics that perform exceptionally and last longer whilst using fewer resources,” said Ebru Ozkucuk Guler, Isko senior sustainability and CSR. “We work hard every day to improve ourselves, to be better and do better—this is what responsible innovation means to us: never settle, but always strive for improvement.”
The report also highlights Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which are clear markers of a product’s environmental impact. Isko was the first manufacturer to obtain independently verified EPDs for its portfolio of denim products.
Denim leaders throughout the supply chain are facing new pressure to publish in-depth records of their sustainable initiatives as the demand for transparency grows.
In May, Mud Jeans published its second cradle-to-grave life cycle analysis (LCA) report and announced new plans to produce a denim fabric made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled cotton. Similarly, premium denim brand 7 For All Mankind unveiled “Sustainable For All Mankind,” a new platform that provides transparency into its sustainability practices and lays out the company’s sustainability goals.
