Sae-A Trading, an affiliate of Global Sae-A Group, said on the 14th that it has completed certification for the use and management of eco-friendly cotton across the entire apparel production process, from yarn to fabric to finished goods. It is the first in the domestic industry.
Sae-A Trading recently completed certification for the physical supply chain traceability system introduced last year by Better Cotton Initiative, a sustainable cotton consortium.
Better Cotton, a global nonprofit founded in Switzerland in 2005, is the world's largest eco-friendly cotton initiative. It certifies, through strict procedures, whether cotton used is grown with environmental sustainability (water, soil, biodiversity) and social responsibility (labor rights, safety, fair treatment) in mind during cultivation. Currently, about 22% of global cotton production is managed under Better Cotton standards.
4th, Better Cotton introduced a physical supply chain traceability system last year and strengthened its certification process by making on-site audits by credible third-party certification bodies mandatory starting in April this year.
Costa Rica-based Sae Spinning (yarn) and Indonesia-based Win Textile (fabric), affiliates of Global Sae-A Group, checked the factories' cotton management processes, and Sae-A Trading underwent audits on headquarters' system management such as cotton usage and actual shipment status.
Through this certification process, Sae-A Trading enhanced traceability across the entire supply chain from production to final delivery by verifying the actual usage of eco-friendly cotton and checking management systems across key apparel production processes. In addition, by managing cotton transactions and supply status on a digital basis through Better Cotton's platform, the company can now provide transparent and reliable data to global customers and stakeholders.
A Sae-A Trading official said, "Sae-A Trading's certification for Better Cotton's physical supply chain traceability system proves that we have a high-level framework for the use and management of eco-friendly cotton, a global trend," adding, "We will continue to expand the use of sustainable materials and lead responsible eco-friendly management by conducting certifications for sewing factories located in Southeast Asia and Central America."