Clothing prices have defied inflation, staying cheap while almost everything else has got more expensive. A 2026 report by Public Eye and Clean Clothes Campaign found many buyers still source a standard cotton T-shirt for around USD 2–3, leaving suppliers to absorb rising operating costs.
Brands and suppliers are commercial partners, each with its own targets to meet, and those priorities will sometimes conflict.
Supplier scorecards can offer objective performance indicators but how do we choose the right metrics? This session looks at how scorecards can reward sustainability in buying decisions and support longer-term partnerships.
- Weighting: How much should sustainability performance count against price and service levels? What happens to sourcing decisions when it does?
- Incentives: How order volumes, contract length and better payment terms can give suppliers a commercial reason to invest in sustainability.
- Red lines: Should a minimum threshold exist that excludes suppliers performing poorly on climate?
- A buyer scorecard: What channels exist so suppliers can give honest feedback to buyers without fear of losing orders?
What to expect from this type of session...
Main stage sessions, but not as you know them. Because we’re off-the-record, leading experts can speak candidly about their experience with what works, and what doesn’t. At least half the session is dedicated to audience insights and questions to ensure we tackle the big issues head on.
