The Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI), a global manufacturer-driven initiative aimed at establishing more equitable purchasing practices in the textile industry, has welcomed the release of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition's (SAC) revised Brand Retail Module (BRM), an instrument used by more than 500 brands and retailers globally, which now includes several questions specifically aimed at purchasing practices.

The BRM is a positive "first step," according to STTI, but it is obvious that further development of the BRM's purchasing practice questions will be required. In particular, STTI wants to see a greater percentage of BRM questions focused on purchasing methods, better reflecting their significance as a necessary condition for significant improvements in social and environmental conditions in the garment supply chain.

Miran Ali, STTI spokesperson, said that STTI is pleased that the SAC has been responsive to its recommendations, and they can now see the garment makers' definition of good purchasing procedures clearly represented in the BRM. The ensuing updated BRM is unquestionably a step in the right direction in the effort to bring about the required changes in purchasing processes. Companies and merchants must be serious about improving their purchasing procedures if they hope to receive a high BRM score. These are significant accomplishments for STTI and the Common Framework, both separately and collectively.

Of course, actual purchasing methods are the most crucial. Long payment terms, pricing that do not reflect sharply growing input prices, and a lack of forecast information are areas of least commercial compliance, according to the Better Purchasing Commercial Compliance Tracker. In the end, STTI will determine the new BRM's success based on how much its users' actual commercial compliance has improved. The BRM will begin to create vital information that will enable us to more accurately evaluate purchasing practices from brands and retailers. In order to enhance and expand the purchasing practices component of the BRM, STTI thus looks forward to continuing its work with the SAC.