Behind the Scenes at the Sustainable Apparel Coalition
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition was born from a dynamic and unconventional meeting of the minds. In 2009, Walmart, America’s biggest retailer and Patagonia, one of the world’s most progressive brands, came together with a radical mission: Collect peers and competitors from across the apparel, footwear and textile sector and together, develop a universal approach to measuring sustainability performance.
Our Timeline
2010
- Exploratory meeting between initial 12 members leads to an agreement to develop a sustainability Index for the industry
- SAC is officially established in April
- Work begins on Index prototype
2011
- Members approve the pilot version of the Higg Index 1.0
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Members approve the pilot version of the EcoIndex (what would later become the Higg Index) after thorough testing in company and in supply chain
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SAC incorporates as a 501(c)(6) organization and hires its first executive director
2012
- SAC creates name and trademarks Higg Index
- SAC publicly releases the Higg Index in July, including environmental, brand, product and facilities modules
- SAC is honored as a C.K. Prahalad Award recipient for leadership in sustainability
- Membership doubles from 2011
2013
- SAC releases Higg Index 2.0 in November to membership and unveils the web tool platform
- SAC launches beta version of its Social and Labor modules for brands and facilities
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SAC launches footwear assessment
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SAC completes Product Category Rules for t-shirts, trousers and jackets
- SAC grows to more than 100 members
2014
- Membership expands to include home textiles
- SAC opens European office in Amsterdam
- SAC grows to more than 150 members
- Nearly 2,000 facilities posted their modules on Higg.org
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SAC launches Product Environmental Footprint pilot with the European Commission
2015
2016
2017
- SAC Builds European Team
- SAC Finalizes Design and Development Tool
- SAC launches partnership with NRDC to help scale Clean by Design to improve Higg facilities scores
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Number of facilities posted on Higg.org on track for100% growth
- SAC grows to 150+ members
- 5,000+ Higg Index accounts exist
- 8,000+ Higg Index Modules are posted since launch
- NRDC Clean by Design program launches
- Higg Index Design & Development Module launch
- Higg Material Sustainability Index launch
- Higg Index Verification launch
- SAC membership exceeds 200 members
Ready to join the SAC?
We are building the future of the apparel, footwear, and home textiles industry, and we welcome you to join us.