Who We Are
Cascale (formerly Sustainable Apparel Coalition, or SAC) is a global, non-profit alliance of 300 leading consumer goods brands, retailers, manufacturers, sourcing agents, service providers, trade associations, NGOs, and academic institutions. Our members represent every link of the global value chain for apparel, footwear, and textiles; home furnishings; sporting and outdoor goods; bags and luggage.
Introduction
Together, we are working toward a shared vision of an industry that gives back more than it takes — to the planet and its people. Through multi-stakeholder engagement, our mission is to transform business for exponential impact through groundbreaking tools, collaborative partnerships, and trusted leadership for industry sustainability.
To reach this shared vision, we have developed the Higg Index in collaboration with our members, to create a global approach for effectively measuring and evaluating the social and environmental impacts of value chains and products.
Our groundbreaking tools enable organizations to identify hotspots, improve sustainability performance, save time and money, and engage with value chain partners to scale systemic change across the industry.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Cascale is dedicated to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in everything we do, and we strive to promote an environment that celebrates dignity for all. As a global organization, varied approaches and contributions are recognized, celebrated, and valued. Our goal is to scale initiatives that engage a wide range of communities, while respecting each participant’s individuality. As an employer, we maintain a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination, actively creating a safe and supportive space where individuals from all backgrounds can celebrate their differences. We are proud to have built a team where diverse experiences and perspectives are not only welcomed but are also seen as essential to our success, co-creating an environment where everyone is encouraged and empowered to thrive.
Our Unique Value Proposition
Cascale is more than just another industry body; we are a coalition of diverse interests. We seek to create a trusted space for candid dialogue, where disagreements and challenges are not roadblocks but catalysts for transformative action. Trust is hard to earn and easy to lose, but it’s through this trust that we effect meaningful change.
Join an expansive network that spans over 30 countries, uniting retailers, manufacturers, policymakers, and NGOs. We are the meeting point for the industry to collaboratively address urgent social and environmental challenges, co-creating solutions that can be scaled across an industry where every voice is heard.
Within Cascale, you gain an unparalleled opportunity to share and learn best practices from thought leaders and experts. We don’t just improve individual companies; we catalyze industry-wide transformation, turning sustainability from a choice into an imperative.
Vision
A global consumer goods industry that gives more than it takes — to the planet and its people.
Mission
To catalyze collective action toward an equitable and restorative consumer goods industry, by aligning our global community around shared goals, developing and executing joint solutions, and leading the acceleration of impact at scale with our strategic partners.
Our Pillars
“Evolution for Impact” is our north star for transformation. It directs us to three foundational pillars. These pillars are not isolated; they are interwoven strands of a complex tapestry that form our unified strategy for industry transformation.
We aim to move beyond reducing negative impacts to contributing positively to biodiversity, natural ecosystems, and the communities in which we operate.
We are motivated by the conviction that every worker deserves respect and safe working conditions. Our mandate ensures that people, and planet, are at the center of our work.
Acknowledging the alarm bells—the textile industry alone accounts for up to 10% of global carbon emissions—we are committed to a minimum 45% reduction of GHG emissions by 2030.
The Impact of our Community
Together, we’re working towards a more sustainable and just world for all. Learn about what we’re doing and the impact we’re making
Our Members
Worldly Partnership
Worldly is a comprehensive impact intelligence platform which hosts, connects with, and supports leading industry solutions and methodologies including the Higg Index. Worldly is the exclusive licensee of the Higg Index suite tools; however, Cascale created and owns the methodology for the Higg Index and we continue to manage and evolve the methodology for the Higg Index to better meet the needs of the industry.
Our Origins
In 2009, Walmart and Patagonia identified a lack of standardization. Joining forces, they brought together peers and competitors from across the sector, to develop a universal approach to measuring sustainability performance and to drive collective action. This became Cascale, formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC).
Governance
Our work is governed by a parity-based Board, where each of our three membership categories are represented equally. The Board members help drive the strategic direction of the organization. They are supported by topic experts who act as Board Advisors. Click below to see who’s involved.
