IAIG wins multiple excellence awards at Responsible Business GFT Awards 2024

The I Apparel International Group (IAIG) has triumphed once again, winning multiple awards at the recently concluded second edition of the Responsible Business GFT Awards 2024, out of the 120 hopeful participants. The company celebrates back-to-back victories, receiving double recognition for Social Excellence in Workers Empowerment and Well-being and Best Innovation from a Business Perspective. Last year, IAIG won the same Social Excellence award along with the Environmental Excellence recognition for Sustainable Energy Management at the inaugural edition of the event.

About the Responsible Business GFT Awards

Previously known as the CSR Garment Awards, the Responsible Business GFT Awards 2024 highlights the exceptional contributions of businesses in the Garment, Footwear, Travel Goods, and Accessories (GFT) industries, focusing on their sustainability efforts in social, environmental, community, and youth sectors.

Inaugurated in 2023, the annual event aims to promote best practices in sustainability, inspire the fashion industry to adopt ethical business practices, and foster collaboration among business leaders committed to making a positive impact.

Application and judging process

Participants in the awards could apply for up to two categories: Social Excellence, Environmental Excellence, and Innovation. For each category, applicants selected one relevant sub-category to submit their entries:

• Social Excellence: Workers Empowerment and Well-being, Best Supported Social Initiative in the “Neighborhood of a Factory,” or SME Social Champion (below 1,500 employees).
• Environmental Excellence: Sustainable Energy Management; Chemical Usage, Water Consumption, and Air Pollution Reduction; or SME Environmental Champion (below 1,500 employees).
• Innovation: Best Innovation from a Business Perspective, Circularity and Textile Waste Recycling, or SME Best Innovation Champion (below 1,500 employees).

Entries were evaluated based on measurable results, positive changes, and the tangible benefits achieved by the projects. Nine distinguished judges, including leaders from sustainability, development sectors, government, and the GFT industries, conducted the evaluation. The Control Union experts also played a vital role by screening applications and performing on-site audits.

The submission and evaluation process took six months, from the official contest opening in June 2024 to the final selection on November 1, 2024.

IAIG’s winning entries

This year, IAIG applied for Social Excellence – Workers Empowerment and Well-being, a category it won in 2023. The company, however, chose not to reapply for Environmental Excellence but instead entered the Innovation category, specifically for Best Innovation from a Business Perspective.

IAIG’s winning entry for Social Excellence focused on its efforts to promote women’s rights, inclusive education, and various social programs benefiting its employees. Meanwhile, the Innovation award was won by IAIG for its digital ERP systems, automated technologies, and retrofitting initiatives, which have significantly contributed to making the company more responsible and sustainable.

For two years in a row now, IAIG has received multiple awards on sustainability, including the Just Style Excellence Awards for Environmental Sustainability and Social Support Schemes, which the company received earlier in 2024.