Sappi has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). Sappi will use the group’s sustainability measurement suite of tools, the Higg Index, to drive environmental and social responsibility throughout its supply chain.

SAC has more than 240 global brands, retailers, and manufacturers as members, 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.

Sappi, based in South Africa, provides dissolving wood pulp, paper (specialty, packaging and graphic), paper pulp, and biomaterial products and related services and innovations. These products serve the fashion, FMCG and industrial sectors. Sappi has manufacturing facilities on three continents, in nine countries and customers in over 150 countries worldwide.

In its relationship with the SAC, Sappi 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. Higg 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.

Sappi’s overall objective is to expand and enhance value streams to create sustainable products based on a renewable natural resource—wood fiber.