Cotton Council International (CCI) has announced that it has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and will use the group’s sustainability measurement suite of tools, the Higg Index, to drive environmental and social responsibility throughout its supply chain.
CCI is a non-profit trade association that promotes U.S. cotton fiber and manufactured cotton products around the globe with the COTTON USA™ Mark.
With its membership in the SAC, CCI joins more than 250 global brands, retailers, and manufacturers, as well as government, non-profit environmental organizations, and academic institutions, which are collectively committed to improving supply chain sustainability in the apparel, footwear, and textile industry.
Speaking on the development, Steph Thiers-Ratcliffe, CCI Director of European Brands and Retailers, said: “We are pleased to be joining the SAC, confident that together we can scale positive impact on product sustainability over time. With shared ambition in providing robust environmental data to the sector, we will collaborate to enable greater supply chain transparency and informed decision making.”
In its relationship with the SAC, CCI will contribute both data and resources to support the Higg Index, which measures sustainability performance and drives supply chain transparency and decision-making to improve efficiency and sustainability impact. The Higg Index is an indicator-based suite of tools that enables suppliers, manufacturers, brands, and retailers to evaluate materials, products, facilities, and processes based on environmental performance, social labor practices, and product design choices.
“We welcome the addition of CCI to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and look forward to its participation in this industry-wide effort in sustainability,” SAC Executive Director Amina Razvi said, before adding: “Having CCI as part of the coalition widens the scope of our impact within the industry and accelerates the change we’re making towards responsible industry actions.”