The apparel and textile industries face a major challenge with audit and standard fatigue, leading to overlapping audits and a lack of consensus on standards.

Standard Convergence Initiative (SCI) works with existing initiatives such as the Social & Labour Convergence Programme (SLCP) to reduce audit and standard fatigue. The initiative also collaborates with the International Trade Centre (ITC) on the Standards Map Database to track progress by third-party standard holders. SCI steps in to provide support to standard holders that need to reduce audit and standard fatigue.

Additionally, SCI connects with the Sustainable Terms of Trade Initiative (STTI) to improve purchasing practices. One way to do this is by reducing the number of overlapping standards and favoring third-party standards over proprietary ones, which is promoted by STTI.

To tackle this issue, the International Apparel Federation (IAF) and International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) have joined forces through the Standard Convergence Initiative (SCI).

SCI's work, though behind the scenes, has a significant impact on the apparel and textile industries. It ensures that the manufacturing members of IAF and ITMF have a voice in these initiatives and pushes for the reduction of audit and standard fatigue.