Common Objective Joins Forces With Experts From Burberry, M&S, and Fairtrade To Launch Strategic Sustainability Consultancy
Common Objective (CO), the pioneering tech solution to sustainable fashion sourcing and business, today announced the official launch of their strategic consultancy practice - CO Consults - in partnership with 8 leading sustainability and retail specialists including Mike Barry (Previously M&S - Plan A) and Vanessa Podmore (Previously Pentland, Jimmy Choo, Burberry)
The launch of CO Consults was inspired by our data held on over 22,000 fashion professionals from 130+ countries, and the growing awareness that thousands of brands suffer from ‘sustainability paralysis’ - an inability to make meaningful progress and measurable impact on sustainability due to an absence of team-wide alignment on the priorities, a trackable roadmap, fear of margin erosion in a challenging market, or an understandable fear that any customer communications will face the accusation of greenwashing.
Throughout 2020, the CO network will continue to expand globally, building even greater expertise across all fashion sectors including design, sourcing, garment technology, manufacturers large and small, mills, and artisan craftspeople from Australia, Europe, US, Asia and Africa.
The impressive line-up of consultants includes industry veterans with expertise that spans design, production, supply chain and business transformation:
Mike Barry - Strategy and Business Transformation. 20+ years experience, previously at M&S.
Clare Lissaman - Ethical Trade and Development. Previously Ethical Trading Initiative, the Fairtrade Foundation, Tesco, Gap, Traidcraft, Twin Trading and the Department for International Development.
Andy Jackson - Design and Product Development. 15+ years experience, previously Debenhams, River Island and F&F.
Vanessa Podmore - International Supply Chains. 20+ years experience, previously Burberry, and Pentland Brands.
Alessia Gotti - Sustainable Textile Sourcing - Highly networked textile agent with global reach.
Victoria Waugh - Sustainable Jewellery Sourcing and Fashion. 20+ years experience, previously Fairtrade International.
Vanessa Brain - Certification and Traceability Systems. 10+ years experience, previously The Fairtrade Foundation.
Tara St James - NY based Zero-to-one strategy. 20+ years experience, Educator and Designer.
Rachel Fortune - SME Sustainability Specialist. 15 years experience, stylist and consultant.
CO Consults is unique not only in its model - which leverages the power of an extended network as opposed to being restricted only by ‘in-house’ resources - but also in its approach. Sustainability challenges traditional business models and the financial KPI's that come with that. As such, CO Consults encourages organisational transformation that will optimise sustainability success.
“We believe in a model that prioritises sustainability goals alongside commercial targets” says Tamsin Lejeune, CEO and founder of Common Objective. “We’re bringing together a global network of experts to deliver world-leading and achievable sustainability solutions for fashion businesses. Our team has spent over 50 years on the factory floor, in the boardroom, chairing workshops, leading business transformation, advising and executing, with one single question in mind; How do fashion businesses continue to prosper by operating sustainably and ethically?”
“Meaningful change can be sidelined unless it positively impacts the bottom line or neutralises any associated increase in cost. Most fashion business models are of course rooted in traditional capitalism and shareholder KPIs. But attitudes are changing. Customers are trusting their favourite brands to have nailed this challenge and at the very least be on the journey to achieving measurable change. Reputations are at risk unless we can use our best endeavours to make sustainability and ethical trading business as usual.” says Catherine Thomas, commercial director, Common Objective.