Planet Textiles 2016 can today reveal more speakers at the upcoming event in Copenhagen on 11th May in what is expected to be a ground-breaking week of events on sustainability for the global textile industry.
The event, which is co-organised by MCL Global, The Sustainable Apparel Coalition and Messe Frankfurt takes place at the Copenhagen Concert Hall and will feature Rick Ridgeway, environmentalist and vice-President, environmental affairs, Patagonia, who will also speak at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit the following day.
Other confirmed speakers include: Brad Voorhees, senior manager, supply chain sustainability, VF Corporation who will update delegates on its innovative CHEM-IQ chemical management programme. Marcus Gover, director, the European Clothing Action Plan and Zheng Jian, from the Office for Social Responsibility, China National Textile & Apparel Council.
Vivek Tandon, co-founder, Aloe Private Equity, which has invested in new polyester recycling technology will also speak, and we can confirm that a senior level representative from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development will talk about The Sustainable Textile Partnership.
In a bold move SAC member companies go free to the event as do individual named subscribers of Ecotextile News who register before 11th April. Contact Lorna Quarmby at MCL if you are a named subscriber: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Alternatively, if you don't meet the above criteria, CLICK HERE to reserve your place at the Copenhagen Concert Hall on 11th May.
Other participants will include Marc Guenther, editor-at-large, Guardian Sustainable Business who will moderate Planet Textiles 2016 and Stephanie Schmidt, Changemaker Alliance sirector, from Ashoka, which is the largest network of social entrepreneurs worldwide. She will discuss: The Role of Social Entrepreneurship in Creating a Fair and Sustainable Apparel Industry.
Mike Schragger from Stockholm’s Sustainable Fashion Academy will hold a special Planet Textiles forum on ‘Engaging and Empowering the Investment Community’ with leading speakers from the ethical finance and investment community (more names to follow) as well as industry figures such as Jason Kibbey, CEO of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition.
Planet Textiles will also hold an special Solutions Forum for suppliers where the Leadership sponsor Oeko-Tex Association will host two practical sessions. Other Solutions Forum speakers include Tim Wilson, CEO, Historic Futures, Elzaphan Hotam, VP sales, at TIPA Corp., which was recently awarded the Best Environmental/CSR Initiative Award for its 100 per cent compostable flexible packaging.
Christian Wieth, senior global marketing manager, Novozymes, Rohan Batra, project development, sustainability, at Aditya Birla and Brooke Summers, Project Lead – Cotton to Market, Cotton Australia will also hold discussions in the unique Solutions Forum.
In a further innovation, Planet Textiles aims to be a zero waste event and later this week we will announce special discount packages for those travelling to Copenhagen who wish to attend both events.
We aim to finalise the agenda in early April, so please keep checking back here for more news or visit the Planet Textiles website.
The event is being generously sponsored by Leadership partner, Oeko-Tex, and supported by Covestro, Historic Futures, TIPA Corp., Novozymes, Australian Cotton, Workplace Options.
