047. Manufactured x GIZ FABRIC: Vijay Suvarna on How a Leather Manufacturer Approaches Sustainability

This is part three of our conversation with Vijay Suvarna. Vijay recently wrapped up his time as CSR and Sustainability Manager for Asiatan. He is originally from India, though he has studied in the US, and spent significant time in China where Asiatan is based. As a result of the pandemic, he’s recently left Asiatan and relocated back to India to be nearer to his family. He now works freelance.

In this episode we zoom out. Given the relationships upstream and downstream (covered in parts 1 and 2 of our conversation), and the complexity of sustainability issues facing the leather industry, how did Asiatan decide where to start its sustainability journey? And what’s Vijay’s take on the role of government regulation?

Want to dig deeper ?

The FABRIC project is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and supports the Asian textile industry in its transformation towards fair production for people and the environment.

Vijay was a panelists on the fourth edition of GIZ FABRIC’s online seminar series. Learn more about GIZ FABRIC’s online seminar series “Getting Through the Crisis Together: Asian Dialogues on Sustainability in the Textile and Garment Industry.”

Learn more about the Leather Working Group and the rating system to which Vijay refers.

This overview by Common Objective offers an accessible beginner’s guide to the issues within the leather industry and the various initiatives out there seeking to reduce its environmental impact.

Want to learn more about the chemicals used in the fashion industry? We love this free and accessible ebook by Frank Michel, Executive Director of The ZDHC Foundation “Detoxing the Fashion Industry for Dummies”.