Manufacturer Climate Action Program

  • Decarbonization Program

The Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) is a pivotal initiative that unites manufacturers worldwide to combat climate change across the consumer goods industry, driving sustainable change through science-aligned targets (SATs). Industry stakeholders must act collectively in order to achieve a 45% GHG emissions reduction in line with science-based targets by 2030, limiting the temperature increase to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels. As guided by our “Evolution for Impact” strategy, Cascale’s ambitions extend across the entire value chain including apparel, footwear, and textiles; home furnishings; sporting and outdoor goods; bags and luggage.

What is MCAP?

As an integral part of our Decarbonization Program, MCAP welcomes Cascale members and non-members alike, with a primary objective to accelerate the adoption of science-aligned targets.

MCAP’s mission is to significantly reduce emissions by enabling manufacturers to start their decarbonization journey faster. We are doing this by providing an intermediate pathway to measure carbon emissions and develop science-aligned climate reduction targets for scope 1 and 2, or direct operations.

Cascale is committed to meeting our members and stakeholders where they are in their sustainability journey. We recognize the synergies across sectors and global regions and the opportunity to drive further impact at scale. Through MCAP, we aim to provide accessible, impactful information and accelerate manufacturer adoption of science-aligned targets across scope 1 and 2, at present. In doing so, we encourage manufacturers to focus attention on areas directly within their control to accelerate their decarbonization roadmap. We aim for continuous improvement and evolution of MCAP to respond to the needs of manufacturers, members and stakeholders to broaden the scope in the future.

 

Background: 
Evolution from
 SCAP to MCAP

Rooted in a collaboration between NIKE, Inc. and the World Resource Institute (WRI) in 2021, MCAP evolved from the Supplier Climate Action Program (SCAP) and extensive dialogue with Cascale members. SCAP empowered manufacturers to set science-aligned targets, and set the stage for MCAP’s comprehensive approach. With extensive members’ feedback and consultations on value chain engagement, MCAP integrates experience and expertise to accelerate sustainable progress across the consumer goods industry.

Cascale is proud to continuously grow MCAP across the consumer goods industry and present MCAP as an intermediate pragmatic pathway of our Decarbonization program. We use science-aligned targets to distinguish what is required under MCAP as compared to other initiatives. We do not use “science-based target” or SBT to describe targets under MCAP, but encourage manufacturers to explore our broader Decarbonization Program to identify and set their science-based targets (SBTs) for all three scopes.

Cascale collaborates closely with Apparel Impact Institute to accelerate our joint decarbonization efforts. Cascale’s Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) as corporate-level driven approach and Aii’s Carbon Leadership Program (CLP) as facility-level driven approach are different programs that support a manufacturers’ carbon emission reduction journey.

Four Elements of MCAP

Evaluate Climate Risk

Manufacturers are encouraged to assess and document their physical climate risks to their operations from climate change and identify high emission sites. This analysis serves as a bridge for engaging value chain partners, including brands.

Develop a Decarbonization Plan

Craft a roadmap for emission reduction, addressing the growing demand for transparency and enabling manufacturers to plan investments and resources effectively.

Annually Disclose Progress

Champion transparency by publicly sharing annual progress reports toward targets, cultivating a culture of accountability and growth.

MCAP Disclosure Dashboard

This dashboard highlights the latest update of engaged manufacturers with MCAP validation, approval status of science-aligned targets (SATs) of Scopes 1 and 2 emissions reduction, climate risk evaluation, corporate decarbonization, and their annual progress updates. The intent of this dashboard is to spotlight manufacturer decarbonization progress and motivate climate action for the industry.

Disclaimer: The dashboard is limited to the scope described above, and published  for informational purposes only.

Key:

  • Climate Risk Evaluation – an optional step in the MCAP process where manufacturers are encouraged to assess, evaluate and document physical risks to their operations resulting from climate change.
  • Decarbonization Plan – an optional step in the MCAP process where manufacturers are encouraged to develop decarbonization roadmaps covering their corporate-wide strategy and the identified facility-specific operating practices that show the reduction measures needed to achieve their targets.
  • Annual Climate Disclosure –manufacturers champion transparency by publicly showing annual progress reports towards targets, cultivating a culture of accountability and growth (e.g., CDP report, Corporate Sustainability/ESG Report, etc.)

MCAP Validators

Based on their expertise on MCAP-related topics, including GHG inventory development, target setting process and criteria, and target evaluation, four external firms were selected to serve as validators for MCAP targets: Bureau Veritas, Leadership and Sustainability, SGS, and TÜV Rheinland. Cascale provides oversight to ensure consistency across validations.

Join MCAP: Act Today

The decision to disclose science-aligned targets encourages our members and the community across the entire value chain to develop new, innovative solutions to reduce their environmental impacts, ultimately leading to the commitment of continuous improvement of an organization’s decarbonization strategy.

Play your role in shaping a brighter future to tackle climate change. We are inviting Cascale members and non-Cascale members alike to express their interest in participating in this program and make a positive contribution to the environment and climate action.

Design Elements Dominos

Summary of Acronyms

  • SAT: Science-Aligned Targets
    The primary difference between SATs and SBTs is that SATs under MCAP do not include scope 3 emissions.
  • SBT: Science-Based Target
    Science-based targets provide a clearly-defined pathway for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, helping prevent the worst impacts of climate change and future-proof business growth.Targets are considered ‘science-based’ if they are in line with what the latest climate science deems necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement – limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
  • SCAP: Supplier Climate Action Program
    Developed by Nike INC., SCAP empowers manufacturers to set science-aligned targets, and this program set the stage for MCAP’s comprehensive approach.
  • MCAP: Manufacturer Climate Action Program
    Developed by Cascale, MCAP unites manufacturers worldwide to combat climate change, driving sustainable change through science-aligned targets.

Resources

MCAP Criteria and Recommendations

Target Validation Protocol

SAT Validation Organisation Professional Code of Conduct

 MCAP Communication and Disclosure Guidelines

This guidance has been developed for participants in the Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) to advise them on how they might disclose, publicly communicate, and share information about their science-aligned targets (SATs) and participation in MCAP.

Design Elements Moons

Contact Us

If you have any questions or would like to receive more information, please reach out to us at MCAP@cascale.org. If you are a Cascale member, we also invite you to join the Decarbonization Program Community on Cascale Connect.

For MCAP participants, Cascale dedicates ten hours of online and offline technical advisory support throughout the engagement period to facilitate seamless onboarding and program integration. To access our MCAP helpdesk and submit a ticket, please click here. Our team is committed to prompt follow-up on all submitted queries, and we look forward to assisting you.