AII forms to better Supply Chain Sustainability in Apparel Industry

Several large apparel brand names, clothing coalition,s and initiatives have banded together to start the Apparel Impact Institute (AII). Amongst the group are names including Target, Gap, Sustainable Trade Initiative and Sustainable Apparel Coalition.

The AII will “focus on helping apparel companies with projects designed to reduce the apparel industry's environmental impact” (Menapace 2017).

This Institute’s presence and creation couldn’t have come at a better time for apparel brands involved, and the entire industry for that matter. Recent consumer trends have shown that environmental impact and sustainable production of clothing is a growing concern.

AII’s plans to become a bit niched and focus on specific areas of the issues in the apparel industry. The hope is that more focus on narrow problems will result in wider - more sustainable - impact, considering true actions will be put into place to execute environmental goals. 

Jason Kibbey, CEO of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition made remarks about AII, and the work he sees can make a difference. He believes that the Higg Index (a self-assessment current used and completed in apparel companies) provides data sets that are crucial in building a better basis for standardizing sustainability parameters.

"It's critical that we also take collective action to put that data to work.The Apparel Impact Institute allows us to act jointly on scaling practices that have a positive impact on people, planet and the whole industry, while simultaneously helping brands and manufacturers improve their Higg Index scores."

AII’s first course of action will be focused around mill improvement. In particular, the reduction of water, energy and chemical use.

The initiative believes that keen focusing of efforts on particular industries and verticals along the global apparel value chain is how they’ll be able to create the most positive change. 

READ THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS ARTICLE HERE