Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference USA

3rd - 4th June 2026

New York City, USA

Board room buy-in: How can we present the business case to the C-suite without selling sustainability short?

Q&A
Back to agenda

Sustainability and the business case are often treated as competing narratives, yet both matter. Too often the moral argument dominates, while the commercial upside is underplayed. At the same time, many companies struggle to measure ROI in a way that reflects the full value sustainability delivers.

When assessed with the right metrics, sustainability drives clear financial returns: lower material and energy costs, greater supply-chain resilience, reduced exposure to volatility, and new avenues for growth and innovation. The challenge is presenting these benefits in a way that resonates with leaders who are under pressure to deliver short-term results.

In this session, experts will share practical methods and real case studies that show how to quantify the value of sustainability in business terms that the C-suite cares about. We will also explore how teams can make a compelling case for long-term strategic investment in an environment where shareholders often prioritise quarterly performance.

Q&A

What to expect from this type of session...

Leading experts answer your questions. The session is framed in the biggest challenges, opportunities and innovations in industry. But the session is about the audience. And no questions are off limits. These sessions are a chance to take inspiration, ideas and energy back to the office with you.

You might also like...View full agenda

Day 0

Time
Session title
Session theme
Session type
Day 1

Time
Session title
Session theme
Session type
9:20am - 10:00am
Plenary
10:00am - 10:40am
Plenary
10:40am - 11:20am
11:20am - 12:00pm
Collapsing the E and S in ESG: Protecting workers’ rights in the push to net-zero 
Sourcing Journal | Global Labor Institute, Cornell University ILR School | Fair Labor Association
Plenary
12:30pm - 1:30pm
1:30pm - 2:15pm
2:15pm - 3:00pm
3:00pm - 3:45pm
4:15pm - 5:00pm
5:00pm - 6:00pm
Day 2

Time
Session title
Session theme
Session type
10:00am - 10:45am
The reality of resale, repair, rental: Can circular business models actually scale to compete with the linear system? 
Nuuly | Tersus Solutions | GUESS inc. | Yale University | Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Plenary
10:45am - 11:15am
11:15am - 12:00pm
T2T targets: Would a fully recycled closed textiles loop truly benefit everyone? 
The Crisis of Stuff | Bank & Vogue | Reju | EILEEN FISHER
Plenary
12:00pm - 12:30pm
Regenerative cotton: If it really is a win-win for all, why is it not more widespread? 
Spruell Farms | Victoria's Secret & Co | COTTON USA™ and U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Case study
12:30pm - 1:30pm
1:30pm - 3:00pm
3:00pm - 3:30pm
Key takeaways and closing remarks 
Parsons School of Design