Apparel exporters pledge compliance with EU human rights, sustainability rules
COLOMBO – Sri Lanka’s apparel exporters have reaffirmed their commitment to meeting European Union human rights due diligence and sustainability requirements, as global brands tighten supply-chain standards, the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said.
Industry leaders and international certification bodies meeting in Colombo said compliance with recognized social and environmental certification systems would be critical for Sri Lanka to maintain competitiveness in key export markets, particularly Europe and the United States.
“Consumers, regulators and investors are now aligned in demanding responsible production,” Avedis Seferian, President and Chief Executive Officer of Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), told the forum, which focused on strengthening social sustainability across apparel supply chains.
The event brought together representatives from WRAP, global assurance and certification firm Intertek, JAAF, apparel manufacturers and sustainability specialists to examine how Sri Lanka’s apparel sector can adapt to increasingly regulated international markets.
Sri Lanka, one of South Asia’s leading garment exporters, has long marketed itself as an ethical sourcing destination. WRAP, one of the world’s largest independent certification programs for the apparel and footwear industry, certified its first Sri Lankan manufacturing facility in 2003.
“In a data-driven world, traceability and social compliance will decide who moves ahead and who falls behind,” JAAF Secretary General Yohan Lawrence said.
He noted that both the EU and the United States were tightening expectations on responsible sourcing, including mandatory human rights due diligence and supply-chain transparency requirements.
“Sri Lanka is extremely well positioned to build on what we already do best,” Lawrence said. “But the future of our industry depends on embedding sustainability into decision-making at every level.”
Discussions at the forum highlighted the growing importance of data and digital traceability, as international brands increasingly demand verifiable, real-time information on labour standards and social compliance throughout the production process, from raw materials to finished garments.
Lawrence said buyers were seeking digital systems that integrate social audit findings, including WRAP certification data, into transparent supply-chain platforms, allowing brands to demonstrate compliance with regulatory and investor expectations.
Sri Lanka’s apparel sector, which employs hundreds of thousands of workers and is a major source of foreign exchange, faces growing pressure to align with evolving international norms as buyers seek to reduce reputational and regulatory risk in their supply chains.
-ENCL
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