The fashion industry required the investment of all participants of the supply chain to innovate and integrate sustainability into The world’s largest viscose producer, Sateri has launched its sustainable vision for 2030 to provide a framework for the company’s strategic growth in the coming years. The vision is deeply rooted around four key pillars as a response to the environmental and social challenges faced by the cellulosic fiber industry namely, climate and Ecosystem Protection, Closed Loop Production, Innovation and Circularity, and Inclusive Growth. 

The framework includes mapped out time-bound measurable targets. It includes notable targets like, achieving a net-zero carbon emission by 2050, achieving a 98% Sulphur recovery rate at all its mills by 2025, utilizing textile waste and producing viscose products that contain 50% recycled content by 2025. The company also hopes to produce viscose from 100% content by 2030. To advance further into its sustainable measures the company hopes to support over 300,000 families and small farmers to develop a suitable livelihood.

Allen Zhang, the President of Sateri with reference to the vision stated that as a raw material supplier, the company will do its part and respond to the urgent need to decouple growth from further resource impact. He further added that this vision would underpin its growth in addition to the QPC (Quality, Productivity, Cost) and continue to empire the company’s growth.

The company was established in Shanghai in the year 2002 as China’s first wholly foreign-owned cellulose enterprise. Its launch came exactly a year after China joined the World Trade Organisation. It took the company two decades to establish itself as the world’s largest viscose producer with five viscose mills and a yarn spinning mill in different parts of China. In recent years the company has also diversely ventured into non-woven and Lyocell fibers with more differentiated products that include recycled fibers. 

Zhang stated that as they a new decade, they will continue to grow and diversify their product offering to their customers and remain an important raw material provider. He further adds that their raw materials cannot be dependent on just volume and scale. He concluded by stating that they were heading towards becoming a value-driven company and they were compelling reasons for them to do so. 

The newly established visions have surfaced after months of discussions with management members and external stakeholders which includes customers, brands and NGOs. BSR, a sustainability consultancy agency led by Jeremy Prepscius, the Asia Pacific Vice President facilitated the process. Prepscius stated that the threats facing their business models. He further added that it required leadership, alignment and the determination to succeed, that Sateri was striving to do.

LaRhea Pepper, the Managing Director of Textile Exchange, stated that the continuous growth of fashion consumption would have a significant impact on people and the planet. He added that Sateri was a significant player in the cellulosic fiber industry and was very well placed to support the change that is needed for truly resilient and sustainable fashion industry. He stated that as the apparel industry geared up towards sustainable change, he was very impressed to witness Sateri’s swift response towards resetting its growth strategy with a vision that aligned with the aspiration of MMCF 2030 that was launched in June 2020.

Duan Xiaoping, the Deputy President of China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC) and President of the China Chemical Fibers Association (CCFA), stated that he was very impressed with Sateri’s vision as it addressed the industry’s key sustainability issues regarding raw material sourcing, environmental emissions, labor and employment, as well as communities with quantifiable commitments and clear timelines. He further added that as the world’s leading producer of cellulosic fiber, he was confident that the company would accomplish the goal it has set for itself and be recognized for their suitability leadership in the industry.

In the upcoming months, the company is expected to form workgroups to design action plans to deliver targets set.