Cambodia Investment Review
The Responsible Business GFT Awards 2024, brought together more than 150 factories and industry leaders from Cambodia’s Garment, Footwear, and Travel Goods (GFT) sectors. Sponsored by Wing Bank (Cambodia) and Control Union (Cambodia) hosted by the Garment and Manufacturing Committee of EuroCham, the Textile, Apparel, Footwear & Travel Goods Association in Cambodia (TAFTAC), and the Responsible Business Hub, the event celebrated the companies leading the way in sustainability, innovation, and responsible production.
The awards aimed to highlight and honor those factories that have made significant strides in fostering sustainable practices, advancing environmental goals, and embracing innovative production processes. The event served not only as an opportunity to celebrate the award-winning companies but also as a platform for stakeholders to collaborate, exchange ideas, and push for higher standards of sustainability within Cambodia’s critical GFT industry.
A Global Model Of Sustainability & Innovation
“This event recognizes the leaders in the sector but also demonstrates the collective efforts that are transforming Cambodia’s GFT industry into a global model of sustainability and innovation,” said Massimiliano Tropeano, Integrated Expert on Sustainability in the Garment Sector at EuroCham. “We are thrilled to have celebrated the remarkable achievements of so many outstanding businesses that are committed to sustainability and responsible practices.”
The evening highlighted nine awards across three key categories: Social Excellence, Environmental Excellence, and Innovation. The awards were determined through a rigorous screening process conducted by Control Union and a final assessment by an expert panel of judges. The selection process aimed to ensure fairness and transparency.
Winners of the Social Excellence Award were recognized for their dedication to workers’ empowerment, well-being, and fostering safe, inclusive, and supportive work environments. The Environmental Excellence Award celebrated companies that demonstrated a strong commitment to sustainable energy management and waste reduction. The Innovation Award was awarded to businesses that implemented cutting-edge technologies and production processes to reduce environmental impact and improve operational efficiency.
A notable aspect of this year’s awards was the introduction of the SME Excellence category. This sub-award recognized small and medium-sized factories (those with fewer than 1,500 employees) for their contributions to sustainability and innovation, emphasizing the role SMEs play in Cambodia’s green economy.
The winners of the Responsible Business GFT Awards 2024 were:
• Social Excellence Award Winners
Workers Empowerment and Well-being
▪ OLIVE APPAREL (CAMBODIA) CO., LTD
▪ Representative Office of I Apparel International Group Pte. Ltd
SME Social Champion
▪ Pactics Co., Ltd
• Environmental Excellence Award Winners
Sustainable Energy Management
▪ Hi-Tech Apparel (Cambodia) Co., Ltd
Chemical Usage, Water Consumption, and Air Pollution Reduction
▪ Can Sports Shoes Co., Ltd
SME Environmental Champion
▪ PPSEC Company Limited
• Innovation Award Winners
Best Innovation from a Business Perspective
▪ Representative Office of I Apparel International Group Pte. Ltd
SME Best Innovation Champion
▪ KOW Lifestyle Manufacturing Co., Ltd
• Special Prize Award Winner
Special Prize for Recycling Innovation
▪ Shun Wei Fang Zhi Ka Ji Co., Ltd
As part of their recognition, each winning company received 100,000 Wingpoints, redeemable through Wing Bank’s e-commerce platform, Wingmall, and at thousands of Wing-affiliated merchants nationwide. This initiative provided winners with a unique opportunity to enhance their business operations by accessing a wide array of products and services, supporting their continued growth in Cambodia’s competitive market.
Read More: A Sustainable Garment Industry Is ‘Critical’ For Cambodia’s Economic Development
The event also provided a space for networking and discussion among industry stakeholders, fostering a shared commitment to driving positive change in Cambodia’s garment and manufacturing sectors. The evening served as a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing sustainability journey, with an emphasis on businesses making a lasting impact on both the environment and society.
EuroCham, alongside its partners, expressed their eagerness to continue supporting sustainable practices in Cambodia’s GFT sectors in the years to come, with a focus on inspiring more companies to adopt these practices and contribute to the nation’s green economy.
The Responsible Business GFT Awards 2024 not only highlighted the outstanding achievements of the recognized companies but also set a new benchmark for sustainability in the industry, encouraging further innovation and responsible business practices across Cambodia’s garment, footwear, and travel goods sectors.
