We often see that the sourcing & sustainability departments at large clothing brands are not best friends. They both have a set of targets which in many instances work directly opposite to each other. Sourcing is incentivised to keep the costs of garments as low as possible, while new policies of sustainability departments will often increase those costs.

• Money talks. With limited regulations and limited rewards for taking a strong stand on sustainability (brand diversification), we need innovative solutions that go beyond sustainability. We see that the most sustainable options are those that are also economically viable.

Over breakfast, we'll get into what options we see are viable, where they add real value, and what changes when data and AI solutions can support both departments wishes.

Who this is for

• Sourcing, Supply Chain and Sustainability leads/experts at large clothing brands.

• Preferably those that are familiar with the available data within their organisation and/or have innovative ideas for more sustainable sourcing strategies.

What we'll get into

We will discuss two examples that align the incentives of Sourcing & Sustainability that we have named 'sustainable sourcing strategies'. Both examples are built around the idea that over the past years brands have been investing more into a centralised data infrastructure (because of upcoming regulations and the need to report). The aim is to leverage this compliance data infrastructure to the benefit of the whole brand with these sustainable sourcing strategies.

1. The resilient sourcing strategy (presented by ADC)

• We show how linking multiple data sources to your supply chain data can surface concrete risks and diversification opportunities. Using an ADC dashboard, we demonstrate how to identify your largest sourcing risks and where to build alternative, more resilient options.

• We also introduce how Causal Inference can move you beyond simple benchmarking: it lets you evaluate whether sourcing decisions actually delivered the intended impact, and quantify their real effect on cost, risk, and performance.

• Why it is important for sourcing: this supports a more resilient strategy where diversity of suppliers, regions, and materials is actively managed rather than assumed.

• Why it is important for sustainability: strengthening this data infrastructure increases transparency and traceability of garment sourcing, and typically goes hand in hand with adopting more sustainable, innovative materials and practices.

2. Sustainable chemical management as a sourcing lever (presented by ZDHC)

• We show how ZDHC’s data on chemicals used in production and levels of MRSL conformance within facilities can help build a more risk‑based sourcing approach. By linking information from the ZDHC Gateway to your existing supply chain and compliance data, sourcing can see where operational and environmental risks such as contamination, pollution incidents or remediation needs are concentrated, and where lower‑risk options exist.

• We bring in findings from a recent study on the impact of MRSL‑conformant chemistry to illustrate how more systemic chemical management approaches can reduce sourcing risk and deliver measurable impact reductions over time. This creates a concrete example of how an impact‑driven data strategy can inform sourcing decisions, rather than being “just” a reporting requirement.

• Why it is important for sourcing: better insight into chemical management and MRSL conformance at facility level supports more informed, lower‑risk sourcing decisions and can help avoid costly disruptions and remediation.

• Why it is important for sustainability: higher MRSL conformance and more systematic chemical management reduce pollution and contamination risks and contribute to meaningful impact reductions across the supply chain.

Most importantly, we will turn the conversation back to you. The aim of this breakfast is both to inspire and to facilitate a discussion among peers. Following Chatham house rules, we can openly discuss and learn from peers what is already implemented.

What you'll take away

• A clear-eyed view of which strategies can enable you to work closer together on large supply chain questions.

• Practical insights on the optimal use of the existing data infrastructure and existing data sources that you can leverage immediately.

• Honest peer conversations with people working on exactly the same problems.

Programme

08:00 – 08:30 | Welcome & breakfast

08:30 – 09.00 | Lightning talks

09:00 - 10:30 | Roundtable discussions, exchange of experiences and thoughts, and insights from ADC

Event details

Date: 6 July 2026

Time: 08:00 – 10:30

Location: ADC, De Ruijterkade 7, 1013 AA Amsterdam

Participation: Free of charge. Seats are limited to keep the conversation real.

Reserve your seat

Limited spaces to keep the room small and the conversation honest.