Sustainable Apparel Coalition venture to tackle climate change
The partnership will provide an opportunity to accelerate solutions for sustainable apparel and a more responsible textile industry
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which outlines a new strategic partnership with the Apparel Impact Institute (AII).
Geared towards supporting efforts to accelerate and scale decarbonization programs, the landmark initiative could reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire industry. Sustainable apparel is the future, it seems.
The textile and apparel industry is currently undergoing a period of change. Critics argue it will have to transform in order to better serve the needs of people and the planet – to be, in short, more sustainable.
A recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report underscored this. To help us keep within the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit, it revealed the textile and apparel industry must reduce its emissions by at least 43 percent by 2030 compared to 2019 levels.
SAC is working with AII on several key areas: research and ecosystem development, unlocking finance to support the decarbonization of the industry, and establishing a clear, standardized journey for suppliers, manufacturers, and brands setting impact targets.
It will also create action plans and track climate-related achievements and industry engagement. The data will then be shared and used to make informed business decisions.
Andrew Martin, Executive Vice President at the SAC, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with AII on this project.
“As an organization united by the belief that partnership is the new leadership, we see this collaboration as a unique opportunity to leverage our collective knowledge and technical expertise to drive meaningful change at scale.
“With time running out for us to reverse the worst impacts of climate change, the challenge we are facing is unprecedented and we cannot afford to lose any more time.
“We must, therefore, come together to co-create solutions that work towards a shift to a more responsible industry and deliver positive benefits to people and the planet.”
Apparel Impact Institute Chief Impact Officer, Kurt Kipka, added: “We are pleased to be furthering our long-standing relationship with the SAC.
“The organization has been an incredible support and a valued resource to many of Apparel Impact Institute’s initiatives and projects.
“We are at a critical point for our planet where we need to translate this momentum into real action immediately. Every player across the apparel and footwear industry’s value chain – large and small – has the collective power to do just that.
“We feel that our partnership with the SAC will only further that momentum.”