Opening Address

Our CEO proudly welcomes our full membership to the 2023 SAC Annual Meeting in Boston.

A Reimagined Future: The Strategic Direction of the SAC

– Navigating Alignment: Unveiling our strategic repositioning and its implications
– Pillars of Focus: A closer look at our targeted strategic pillars for impactful change
– Forging Industry Pathways: How we collaborate to realize our strategic aspirations

Step into the future with us as we unveil a reimagined path for the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). In this session, we explore the core of our strategic direction, shedding light on the pivotal changes that lie ahead.
The world is in flux, demanding that we transform alongside it. Rooted in our commitment to giving back more than we take, both to people and the planet, the SAC embarks on an evolutionary journey. Drawing insights from our members, stakeholders, and valued partners, we’ve revitalized our strategic goals to amplify our impact and contribute to an equitable and regenerative future.
Join us to hear the narrative of our transformative expedition and glean insights from our Board of Directors and Executive Team. Learn how we’re poised to make evolution a vehicle for impactful change, and how our strategic recalibration sets the stage for an industry that thrives in harmony with the evolving world.

The Era of Partnerships

– As we manage change, our tools and programs continue to evolve
– Strategic partnerships are key to successfully deliver on industry goals
– Growth is imperative, and we must do it together

Partnership has never been more important than it is right now. We must work collectively, collaboratively, and cohesively to create a more sustainable and just world for all. The Sustainable Apparel Coalition and Worldly are committed to improving the environmental and social performance of our industry – we are united and prepared to catalyze collective action. Join Amina Razvi, CEO, SAC and Scott Raskin, CEO, Worldly for a deep dive on how this critical partnership enables and empowers industry transformation.

i-Climate

– How do we raise awareness on environmental responsibility?
– How do we preserve the future by addressing business’s responsibility to combat climate change?
– What is Eurojersey’s sustainability story, and what are the impacts of its business decisions?

As a part of our Impact Talk Series, Andrea Crespi, Managing Director, Eurojersey Spa will take the stage for i-Climate. Tune in to hear first-hand how this innovative manufacturing company embodies sustainability into the core of their business model. Andrea will discuss actions his business has taken, how they work with their customers to deliver value while remaining focused on their environmental impacts, and what needs to happen more broadly for us to address the climate crisis.

i-Decent Work

– The Road to Responsibility: The importance of responsible purchasing practices
– Building Strong Foundations: Ensuring effective management systems for human resources and occupational health and safety
– Empowering Tomorrow: Charting the pathway to a future where fairness thrives

Embark on a journey towards responsible business practices in our engaging i-Decent Work session. Featuring Alexander Kohnstamm, Executive Director of Fair Wear, this talk delves into some of the key elements needed to enable real progress on decent work. Discover how these elements intersect to create a safer and more equitable industry landscape for all stakeholders. Join us in charting the pathway to a future where fairness thrives and strong foundations are built.

i-Nature

– Delve into the world of ecosystem protection, restoration, and promotion.
– Explore the transformative potential of regenerative agriculture within our communities and its connection to our industry’s actions.
– Satiate your curiosity with profound insights into the realm of effective foundational environmental management systems.

Join us for an enlightening i-Nature session with Lena Staafgard, COO of Better Cotton Incorporated. Lena will unveil the compelling narrative of regenerative farming and its pivotal role in safeguarding ecosystems. Dive into the discussion on industry-driven efforts to nurture biodiversity in our communities, understanding the far-reaching implications of our actions. Furthermore, gain invaluable insights into the strategies and systems underpinning effective foundational environmental management. Lena will share her expertise on what it takes to craft a sustainable future for all.

Holistic Solutions: Building an Equitable & Restorative Industry

– Aligning our strategy, diving into our three focus areas: combating climate change, decent work for all, and a nature-positive future
– Ways to reach our industry goals, and working together in a pre-competitive space
– Evolution for Impact: leveraging holistic solutions and lead by example

There is no denying that industry is having a major impact on the planet and its people. How does our industry play its part in being part of the solution? The discussion traverses the terrain of climate action, equitable work conditions, and preserving nature. With holistic solutions as our compass, we contemplate our role in nurturing a world that thrives. We will address questions like, “How can we address climate change? How should we be ensuring decent work for all? And, how can we protect and restore nature?” These are the very queries that have occupied the SAC’s reflections throughout this year. Seeking answers to these pivotal questions constitutes an integral facet of our continuous evolution. In the company of four distinguished industry experts, this session endeavors to delve into the actionable steps required across our three strategic focus areas. We shall explore the indispensable role that collaboration assumes and delve into the transformative potential of business model evolution, all working harmoniously to foster positive impacts on workers, climate, and nature.

Industry Level Strategic Suppliers- An SAC Data Driven Plan for Decarbonization

A roadmap for action
– Where do we need to focus our work? The 80/20 rule and ‘Super-hotspots’
– What actions do we need to focus our work on?
– How are we going to do this together as a coalition?

Learn about a new SAC initiative using Higg Index data that pinpoints super-hotspots to help focus our work and actions, throughout the value chain of SAC members. Delivered with a roadmap that not only identifies the prize if we work together but also the serious implications if we don’t. This session will set the scene for the following sessions at the Climate Stage which dive deeper into the challenges and practical solutions needed for impact. Join if you want to learn about and be part of a real Collective Action opportunity to achieve the SAC’s vision of a 45% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2030.

Due Diligence as an Organizing Principle

– Understand what due diligence means
– Explore how to embrace due diligence as an organizing principle for the new regulatory landscape
– Learn how the Higg Index tools can help users meet these new requirements

With the European Commission laying down rules for companies to respect both human rights and the environment in global value chains, we are shifting from more traditional compliance-focused practices and codes towards a systematic, risk-based requirement for responsible business conduct. Join us in this session to hear how the SAC, Worldly and Fair Wear Foundation are collaborating to reduce duplicity, ensure relevancy and offer industry wide solutions, and learn how your organization can get organized for the newly introduced due diligence mandates such as the EU CSDDD, building on well-established protocols like the OECD guidelines and -guidance and more.

Adapt and Evolve: Updating The Higg Product Tools

– Interested in the new value proposition for the Higg Product Lifecycle Tools?
– Check out the updates and the journey we took to get here
– Understand how the updated Higg Product Tools align with current and future regulatory needs

We heard your feedback, and we listened. The new direction for Higg Product Lifecycle Tools is underway after this year’s survey and consultation process, the expert panel review and gathering sustainability practitioners insights. Join this session to gain insights on our new value proposition for the product life cycle tools and our joint roadmap with Worldly. We will examine organizational readiness of product information, both for regulatory purposes and best practices.

Announcement! Manufacturer Program for Combating Climate Change

– Manufacturers, are you looking for practical help to get started and develop your plans for climate action?
– Brands & Retailers, are you looking to engage with your business teams and support your value chain partners in taking on the challenge?
– Come on the decarbonization journey with us and, bring your value chain partners with you and learn how our new program exclusive for manufacturers can provide support with guidance, tools and resources in taking climate action. What are some of the key benefits from participating? What do you need to do? Learn from brands, retailers and manufacturers who have gone through this journey.

The urgency of climate change is at the top of our minds, and we recognize that we cannot do this alone. For most apparel, textile and footwear companies, over 70% of carbon emissions lie in their value chain, this means scope 3 emissions for brands and retailers and scope 1 and 2 emissions for manufacturers. There is a huge opportunity for manufacturers to build the capability to reduce climate impacts from step 1 which is to build GHG inventory, setting, validating and publicly disclosing science-aligned targets for scope 1 and 2. If you and your value chain partners are dedicated to setting science-aligned emissions targets for scope 1 and 2 this is the session to attend. Join our industry experts, and be one of the first to hear our breaking news!

Raising the Bar: OHS and HR Standards

– Industry-Wide Advancement: Unveiling the significance of scaling OHS and HR standards
– Streamlining Strategies: Exploring solutions to streamline efforts and minimize duplication
– Leveraging the Power of Higg FSLM: Insights on harnessing Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM) for scale and efficiency

Where do we stand, and why is it important? Join this session to learn about our approach to social & labor foundational practices for occupational health and safety (OHS) and human resource management (HR). We will address relevant legislation, ways to reduce duplicative efforts, and hear from our expert members on their foundational OHS and HR practices and how they’ve leveraged Higg FSLM.

Ways to SHINE: LCA as a Decision Making Tool

– Curious about LCA data and how it’s being used in other industries?
– It’s LCA’s time to SHINE: expert opinions from MIT’s Sustainability and Health Initiative for NetPositive Enterprise
– Learn how LCA data is being leveraged in other sectors to inform better decision making

Dr. Greg Norris, MIT, joins the stage to share his experiences working with the program, Sustainability and Health Initiative for NetPositive Enterprise (SHINE). Join this session to hear his insights and expertise on leveraging Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools to inform better decision making in sectors outside of the textile, fashion and footwear.

Partnerships: Solutions to the Challenges of Decarbonization

– The challenges of delivering decarbonization are too big and too complex to manage alone — the answer lies in Collective Action and Partnerships
– So what partnerships does the SAC already have in place and how can they help you?
– What challenges still need to be addressed and what other partnerships might we develop to support you?

Concerned about reaching your decarbonization targets? You’re not alone, and as we know there is no one-size-fits all path, we are here to help. Join our session, “Partnerships: Solutions to the Challenges of Decarbonization,” to learn more about our current and emerging partnerships, to gain insights on solutions for implementation and hear from members and partners already doing this. But be prepared not just to listen but to share your challenges and ideas to help us not only help you make the right connections, but to help guide and inform us, as we look to build even more effective collaborations.

Purchasing Practices: Challenges and Learnings

– Pursuing more Responsible Purchasing Practices for a more fair value chain
– Industry Collaboration and Alignment are key to advancing responsible purchasing practices
– Learn how to leverage Higg BRM to implement and promote more Responsible Purchasing Practices

In this session we will delve into the significance of Responsible Purchasing Practices (RPP) and their role in promoting a more equitable and fair value chain. We will discuss how the Higg Brand & Retail Module (Higg BRM) can foster and support the implementation of RPP. Furthermore, we will hear member insights and lessons learned about the RPP questions, equipping participants with the valuable knowledge to apply within their own contexts.

Elevate Foundational Environmental Performance

– Strategy enhancement: improving management systems to elevate foundational environmental performance
– The why and the how: Supporting facilities with long term business needs
– Partner with experts, driving progress across the industry

Looking to enhance your strategy on management systems to elevate foundational environmental performance? Then you’ll definitely want to stop by the Nature Stage. Here we will explore how implementing a proper management system to manage foundational environmental performance can help protect local environmental outcomes as well as for the industry to go farther. Dive into the learnings and challenges faced by manufacturers and brands, and their strategies to better performance and drive impact across the value chain.

Pioneering the Net Zero Project– As global average temperatures reach new highs, reduction pathways must quickly drive fashion towards net zero emissions
– With a focus on decarbonising the value chain, what cutting-edge and collaborative approaches are delivering action?
– Internal policies, principles or change-tactics: pioneering improved transparency to encouraged industry-wide best practices in sourcing

Net zero has to be the goal for major corporations working with climate in mind. How are decades of effort continuously consolidating into executive action? From global ambitions to local approaches, this session profiles the pioneers of fashion’s net zero project.