Fashion shares a close relationship with nature. Stakeholders, especially designers, in the fashion and textiles industries often look to nature for inspiration to ignite their creativity. Nature serves as the perfect means to rewire our brain to be imaginative and come up with innovative ideas that are also good for the natural environment. The objective of this initiative is to research on and organise various activities to examine how these industries can achieve United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12. These activities also focus on the use of natural fibres such as animal fibres in these industries. The impact of their usages on the SDG 15 will be examined to understand how the stakeholders can contribute to the SDGs of Agenda 2030.

A series of stakeholder engagement activities will be conducted to collect the opinions, experience, thoughts, suggestion, ideas, suggestion, and recommendations of stakeholders, which will be further properly recorded and analysed. The activities include at least 8 number of one-hour long Facebook Livestream with 2 different influential VIP guests each time; 3-4 number of 90 minutes long panel discussion with 3-4 different trade experts each time. These will be supplemented by at least 30 units of video in YouTube and/or Facebook and at least 10 written records in Wechat account with 4,000 - 6,000 word count each. Humans have been using animal fibres for thousands of years. Even today, 95% of the western population uses animals products on a daily basis. Therefore, it is unlikely that the world will completely cease using any animal fibres in the next 15 or even 20 years. Therefore, ensuring that all industries using animal fibres contribute to sustainable development and work towards making the world a better place for the present and future generations is imperative. Although the challenges faced by individual stakeholders are interconnected, they have, until now, only searched for solutions on an individual basis. From animal farms to manufactures and consumers, and from animals to humans and the whole ecological system—everything is connected. Therefore, the solutions cannot be found in any one area or with one specific stakeholder. This initiative will first raise awareness on how every stakeholder should come together and help achieve Responsible Consumption and Production. Representatives from all stakeholders will be engaged and their opinions, experience, thoughts, suggestions, and ideas will be collected, recorded, and analysed. A research or white paper will be prepared with reference to international sustainability reporting frameworks, such as Global Reporting Initiative(GRI) Standards and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. A digital-format report will be developed on the basis of qualitative findings from each stakeholder engagement. At least two dissemination seminars of approximately 1–2 hours in hybrid format (in person and virtual) will be arranged in Hong Kong to share updates, experience, and knowledge from different stages of this initiative.

In addition to the awareness-raising efforts of this SDG 12 and 15 initiative at a cross-industry level, high-level discussions will be held through Facebook Livestream and panel discussions at the regional level to identify and prioritise challenges. Subsequently, we will bring this experience, knowledge, know-how, and innovative technological outcomes from the regional level to the local level. This will benefit local stakeholders, especially employees and workers, many of whom are women and minorities. Writing, video, and broadcast will be the major channels used for information sharing. We choose not to intervene in the local structure but present better alternatives that are not only beneficial for stakeholders but also simultaneously contribute to sustainability, especially the achievement of SDG 12 and 15. This initiative will create various platforms for all stakeholders to engage in an open and safe dialogue. The focus of this initiative will be 5-tiered: 1. Regional live streams and panel discussions. 2. Collection and dissemination of experience, knowledge, and innovative technological know-how through live streams and panel discussions. 3. Conversion of this into repeatable good practices that all stakeholders can adopt and use at the local level. 4. Sharing and promotion of these repeatable good practices among all participants at all levels. 5. Review of the above four steps with improvements and amendments if necessary.

The Institute of International Sustainable Development will lead this initiative. The Hong Kong government established Hong Kong Productivity Council and Clothing Industry Training authority will provide guidelines, advices and facilitate coordination or even assist in applying government funding when they deem appropriate. The NPOs including the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Footwear Association and the Federation of Hong Kong Brands will promote and help to coordinate among their members and their non-member trade connections. The private sectors lead by Arte Moda International Enterprises will provide the administrative support and additional funding if required. \r\n In this century, approximately 15% of the world’s population works in the fashion and textiles industries. Every human being uses and consumes products of the fashion and textiles industries. Therefore, responsible consumption and production are imperative to achieving a sustainable future for everyone. Moreover, among the three fibres used in the fashion and textile industries, namely plant, chemical, and animal fibres, the use of animal fibres directly influences life on land. This is why we need the government, the trade, industry and brand associations/organisations in additional to private sectors to participate in this initiative.

To be confirmed: Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) TBC - a multi-disciplinary organisation established by Hong Kong Government statute \r\nClothing Industry Training Authority ( CITA ) TBC - established by Hong Kong Government according to the Industry Training (Clothing Industry) Ordinance\r\nChinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong (CMA) TBC- non-profit making industrial organisation\r\nHong Kong Footwear Association (HKFA) - non-profit making trades organisation\r\nFederation of Hong Kong Brands (FHKB) - non-profit making brands organisation\r\nArte Moda International Enterprises (AMIE) - private sector