In the midst of rigorous industry scrutiny, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) stands as a forceful ally, bringing together nearly half of the global apparel and footwear sector to champion sustainable practices. The Coalition’s recently unveiled 2022 Annual Report illustrates significant strides taken towards the collective transformation of the industry.
Confronting the urgent systemic challenges besetting the industry, SAC underscores the necessity of collaboration as the path forward. As noted by Amina Razvi, CEO at the SAC, 2022 served as a reflective year for the organization, further solidifying its conviction in collective action. The focus was to evolve into an industry that contributes more than it depletes, both to the planet and its people.
In its journey over the past year, the SAC worked hand in hand with members, industry specialists, key stakeholders, and policymakers to lessen environmental and social impacts. The knowledge gained from these engagements is slated to facilitate deeper collaboration and incite further change.
Following the introduction of the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, SAC has bolstered collective action, improved transparency, and evolved their harmonized tools, all fundamental to nurturing a more responsible industry.
Key Achievements from 2022:
Growing Network: The SAC’s community saw a significant influx of 18 organizations spanning the entire industry’s global value chain. In the last two years, the SAC’s growth has been exponential, with a network of over 280 members from more than 33 countries. The Higg Index, the industry’s most extensively used toolset for measuring impact, is now adopted by more than 21,000 organizations worldwide.
Decarbonization Drive: The launch of the Decarbonization Program in December 2022 aimed at accelerating the adoption of science-based targets (SBTs) and urgent emissions reduction. Through initiatives like Peer-to-Peer Learning Groups and training, SAC fostered knowledge sharing and initiated actions to curb GHG emissions. By 2022, 46% of SAC members had set or initiated the process of setting SBTs.
Tool Evolution: The Higg Index remains instrumental in quantifying and understanding the industry’s impact. In 2022, the SAC made headway in enhancing the tool suite with the development of the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) 4.0 and significant revisions of the Higg Brand & Retail Module (BRM). The Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI) received major updates, adding more than 20 new materials and processes, a new category for leather alternatives, and more.
Strengthened Collaboration: The SAC’s Annual Meeting in Singapore, attended by nearly 500 industry representatives, was a testament to their commitment to deepening partnerships. The choice of location recognized the APAC region’s key role in the industry and underlined the importance of engaging stakeholders from the global south.
Looking to the future, the SAC remains steadfast in its commitment to spur positive environmental and social changes. As part of their ongoing mission, a review of the strategic plan is currently underway to broaden its focus and generate a more significant impact.
Dr. Delman Lee, SAC Board Chair and Vice Chair at TAL Apparel, emphasized the SAC’s vision of harnessing business power for positive change. He stated that such a vision could only be realized through collective action and deep partnerships, highlighting the Singapore meeting as a crucial step towards global collaboration and solution co-creation.
