Sustainability
Crystal International Elevates Sustainable Fashion with Industry Partnership and Product Verification
Crystal International Group Limited has been putting unwavering dedication to leading sustainable fashion supply chains globally. To forge joint efforts in advocating sustainability, Crystal International is determined to take part in different industry programs for diverse sustainable actions and product verification, in hopes of fostering global engagement within the industry.
Crystal International plays a vital role in collaborating with other like-minded peers through industry organizations, such as the Partnership for Cleaner Textile (PaCT) program led by International Finance Corporation, the Clean by Design program managed by Apparel Impact Institute, and the Higg Index certified by Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC).
By partnering with industry organizations, the Group aims to explore the potential opportunity of sustainable production with lower environmental impact. In particular, the Group has been a longstanding key member of SAC since 2012, which is a leading apparel alliance inspiring sustainable change. Being at a Progressive+ membership level, the Group has adopted SAC's Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) as a standardized way of assessing and improving environmental performance. The average score of the Group reached new heights in 2023, 5 global factories achieved outstanding performance with verified Higg FEM scores exceeding 90, demonstrating our commitments to energy and water efficiency, carbon reduction, and chemical management. An eco-factory of Crystal Denim, the denim division of the Group, achieved a remarkable verified score of 96% this year, being a top-tier supplier.
In addition to exceptional environmental stewardship, Crystal International emphasizes transparency on responsible production and recognizes the significance of sustainable material certification and product verification in ensuring product integrity. One of the accomplishments is Crystal Denim's recent certification of STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX, the best-known label for textiles tested for harmful substances. The denim team conducted an extensive analysis of various washing techniques, including enzyme treatment, acid washing, bleaching, and tinting process, aiming to fulfill the stringent testing criteria to obtain the certified label, which provides high product safety and confidence to customers. Product transparency enables consumers to trace the supply chain via a unique ID and QR code.
Commenting on the strategic partnership with SAC, "We are always keen to participate in industry initiatives. For example, we recently contributed to the latest development of SAC's Higg FEM 4.0 from version 3.0, bringing our expertise into value," said Catherine Chiu, Vice President of Global Sustainability. Meanwhile, Miles Lam, Assistant General Manager of Crystal Denim expressed his views on ramping up verification of denim products, "with the increasing awareness, we envision transparency on product verification will drive change in the denim industry. We are planning to expand the verification scope to continue delivering sustainable products with quality assurance and high standards of certification".
Crystal International looks ahead to advancing sustainable garment production with forefront moves, creating a collective force on a global scale.
About Crystal International Group LimitedCrystal International Group Limited, incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability and registered by way of continuation in the Cayman Islands, is a global leader in the apparel manufacturing industry. Founded in Hong Kong in 1970, the Company and its subsidiaries have a diversified product portfolio categorized into six product segments, namely Lifestyle wear, Denim, Intimate, Sweater, Sportswear and outdoor apparel, and Knitted fabric, with leading positions in corresponding categories. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the Group operates a multi-country manufacturing platform, with more than 20 production facilities spanning five countries, namely Vietnam, China, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
The Group serves a group of leading global brands, through a highly differentiated "Co-creation" business model, offering value-added services and satisfying our customers through manufacturing excellence, accumulated expertise, promptness of service, and advanced innovation. We strive to produce the right products at the right time and the right cost with exceptional quality. The Group maintains a keen focus on sustainability and was ranked 17th out of 50 in the Fortune business magazine "Change the World" list in 2016. The list recognizes companies across the world that have made significant social and environmental contributions. The Group is striving towards Crystal Sustainability Vision 2030 and Net Zero 2050 Vision.