Building Balance and Equity at Cascale: A Look Ahead
Cascale’s senior director of communications, Lee Green, unpacks recent changes and updates in store on all things tools, membership, and more!
San Francisco, Amsterdam, Hong Kong – October 4, 2023: More than 500 in-person and virtual attendees joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) for its Annual Meeting on September 26 in Boston, MA. Reflecting the theme Evolution for Impact, the event brought together stakeholders from across the fashion and apparel value chain to discuss and explore opportunities for the industry to deepen collaborations in order to drive true and lasting impact for people and planet. Sponsors included Target Corporation, Lululemon, REN Energy, and Worldly, an impact intelligence platform that is the exclusive licensee of the Higg Index tools.
Announcements at the 2023 SAC Annual Meeting included a collaboration with the International Apparel Federation to accelerate efforts towards advancing equitable and sustainable global supply chains in the apparel and fashion industry, the new Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) enabling manufacturers to start their decarbonization journey, and results from an independent review of the Higg Index, a set of tools that empower designers, brands, retailers, and manufacturers, to use life cycle assessment data to make informed decisions and create more sustainable products. The SAC also shared strategies in support of its revised strategic plan, which was announced at New York Climate Week.
The Annual Meeting began with an opening address from Amina Razvi, Chief Executive Officer of the SAC, who reaffirmed the critical importance of collaboration to achieve industry goals that include a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. “Together we share an extraordinary opportunity and a profound responsibility for our industry and beyond to deliver the necessary changes and accelerate progress,” she said. “The question is no longer just about intent – it’s about tangible results.” Razvi also announced that through the SAC’s Decarbonization Plan more than half of SAC members have either set or committed to set Science-Based Targets (SBTs) for GHG reduction, which became a requirement of membership in 2023.
Following an insightful keynote address by nature and biodiversity expert Helen Crowley, Managing Director at Pollination, details of the SAC’s new strategic direction were shared on a plenary panel with Jeremy Lardeau, Vice President, Higg Index at the SAC; Dr. Delman Lee, Vice Chair at TAL Apparel Limited and Immediate Past Chair at the SAC; Krishna Manda, Vice President Corporate Sustainability at Lenzing Group and SAC Vice Chair, Manufacturer Category; and Sean Cady, Vice President Global Sustainability, Responsibility, Trade, and Government Affairs at VF Corporation and SAC Board Director. At the Annual Meeting, the ensuing presentations and discussions delved deeper into the three pillars—Combat Climate Change, Decent Work for All, and Nature Positive Future—that underpin the SAC’s revised strategic plan. Among many others, they included:
At the event, the SAC also announced newly elected Board members Harsh Saini, Executive Vice President, Group Sustainability & Govt/Public Affairs at the Fung Group, and Amanda Tucker, Vice President of Responsible Sourcing and Sustainability at Target Corporation, as well as newly seated Board leadership: Chair Tamar Hoek, Senior Policy Director Sustainable Fashion at Solidaridad Network; Vice Chair Krishna Manda, Vice President of Sustainability at Lenzing Group; and Amanda Tucker, who will serve as Secretary. The Annual Meeting was powered by Global Fashion Agenda, which hosted the Global Fashion Summit on September 27, also in Boston.
Shyla Raghav, TIME’s Chief Climate Officer, delivered an inspirational final keynote. “Climate change is transitioning from a niche function to a core one,” she said. “The future of the fashion and apparel industry is already here – it’s here in this room.”
The 2023 SAC Annual Meeting online photo gallery is available here and a video recap is viewable here. The 2024 SAC Annual Meeting will be held in Munich, Germany.
– ENDS –
About the Sustainable Apparel Coalition:
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) is a global, non-profit alliance of over 280 organizations in the apparel, footwear, and textile industry. Initially formed to create standardized sustainability metrics, the SAC has sharpened its focus to driving pre-competitive, collective action across three foundational pillars. As an independent entity, the SAC brings together brands, retailers, manufacturers, NGOs, academics, and industry associations to combat climate change, ensure decent work, and contribute to a nature-positive future. Central to the SAC’s mission is the Higg Index, a suite of comprehensive tools that empower members to measure, evaluate, and improve sustainability performance across the supply chain.
Cascale announces the formation of its U.S. Policy Member Expert Team (MET), an advisory group of industry leaders and experts drawn from its membership community.
Discover Cascale’s Brand & Retail Forum: Brussels on Dec 4. Explore EU policies, network with leaders, and help shape the sustainable future of consumer goods.
Cascale and Worldly have published an analysis of California’s new climate laws, which are set to reshape corporate environmental reporting in the United States.