As Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) make moves to work more closely with European policy initiatives, IWTO’s engagement with the SAC proves more important than ever, according to plans presented at the 2016 SAC full membership meeting held 8-10 May in Copenhagen, Denmark.

SAC will seek to position its Higg Index, a standardised supply chain benchmarking tool, as ‘a primary point of reference’ for government regulations and standards such as the EU’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and Garment Initiative.

A SAC member since 2012, IWTO contributes to SAC’s task teams and engages in the technical development of the Higg Index where wool is affected. Representing IWTO, Professor Beverley Henry (outgoing Chair of the Sustainable Practices Working Group LCA TAG), Kjersti Kevisth (SPWG Member) and David Maslen (SPWG LCA TAG Observer) were among the 400 delegates attending.

SAC has approximately 170 members representing 40 per cent of the apparel and footwear industry, coming from every segment of fashion, manufacturing and retail, as well as trade organisations such as IWTO and NGOs, academic research groups, and sustainability service providers.

SAC’s primary goal is to move the global apparel and footwear industry towards greater sustainability, primarily through use of its Higg Index. As a SAC member, IWTO participates in the development of the Higg as it relates to wool, as well as other key task teams.