Collaboration for Impact

Let's get to work.

Real Change Happens When We Move as One

The apparel alliance is a collaborative industry working group uniting four global organizations — Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Cascale, Textile Exchange, and ZDHC. By uniting our complementary expertise, global networks, and strategic initiatives, we aim to accelerate decarbonization across the industry, to achieve a minimum goal of 45% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030. Aligned goals, shared knowledge, one path forward.

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Know Us

The apparel alliance brings together four global organizations that encompass all stages of the apparel value chain. To learn about the core competencies of each organization, click through the boxes on the right.

apparel impact institute (aii)

Identify, fund, and scale impact programs.

apparel impact institute (aii)

  • aii identifies, funds, and scales proven quality solutions to accelerate positive impact in the industry.
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  • aii plays the critical role as a source for impact solutions for brands, manufacturers, and philanthropic donors, validating and aggregating proven environment initiatives. It’s current focus areas are energy, water, and chemistry.
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  • Their core competency within the apparel alliance is its impact management to deliver impact projects, funding initiatives, strategic partnerships, reports, and new impact areas in alignment with the priority climate interventions.

  • Open website →
Read more
Cascale

Catalyze pre-competitive collaboration for maximum impact, anchored by data.

Cascale

  • Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance driving systemic transformation to combat climate change and support decent work in the consumer goods industry. Formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale unites a diverse, worldwide ecosystem of over 300 retailer, brand, manufacturer, supplier, service provider, government, academic, and nonprofit members.
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  • Our alliance catalyzes pre-competitive collaboration for maximum impact, anchored by our stewardship of the Higg Index frameworks — implemented through the Worldly technology platform — and recent acquisition of the Better Buying and Sustainable Furnishings Council tools. While these methodologies are central to our work, they are part of a broader strategy to mobilize collective action, challenge industry norms, and build an industry that gives back more than it takes to the planet and its people. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index—a suite of tools that assess and measure the social and environmental performance of the value chain and the environmental impacts of products.
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  • Open website →
Read more
Textile Exchange

Increase adoption of preferred fibers and materials.

Textile Exchange

  • Textile Exchange is a global non-profit driving beneficial impacts on climate and nature across the fashion, textile, and apparel industry. It guides a growing community of brands, manufacturers, and farmers towards more purposeful production from the very start of the supply chain.
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  • Their goal is to help the industry to achieve a 45% reduction in the emissions that come from producing fibers and raw materials by 2030, while keeping its focus holistic and interconnected and seeking to improve the state of our freshwater, soil health, and biodiversity too.
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  • Their core competency within the apparel alliance is in accelerating the adoption of responsible fibers and materials, through its industry tools, guides, responsible standards, and promotion of transparency and traceability.Textile Exchange guides leaders towards positive climate impact by starting at the source of textile production — raw materials and fibers.
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  • Open website →
Read more
The ZDHC Foundation (ZDHC)

Scale and manage clean facilities and environments.

The ZDHC Foundation (ZDHC)

  • ZDHC enables brands and retailers in the textile, apparel, and footwear industries to implement sustainable chemical management best practices across the value chain. 

  • Through collaborative engagement, standard setting, and implementation, ZDHC is advancing the industry towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals. The ZDHC Foundation oversees implementation of the Roadmap to Zero Programme and is a global multi-stakeholder initiative of more than 400 Signatories within the fashion and footwear industry.

  • Their core competency within the apparel alliance is sustainable chemical management and related impact areas to deliver programs, tools, and data needed to support transparency, performance, and impact in the textile, apparel, leather and footwear.
    ‍
  • Open website →
Read more

apparel impact institute (aii)

  • aii identifies, funds, and scales proven quality solutions to accelerate positive impact in the industry.
    ‍
  • aii plays the critical role as a source for impact solutions for brands, manufacturers, and philanthropic donors, validating and aggregating proven environment initiatives. It’s current focus areas are energy, water, and chemistry.
    ‍
  • Their core competency within the apparel alliance is its impact management to deliver impact projects, funding initiatives, strategic partnerships, reports, and new impact areas in alignment with the priority climate interventions.

  • Open website →
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Cascale

  • Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance driving systemic transformation to combat climate change and support decent work in the consumer goods industry. Formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale unites a diverse, worldwide ecosystem of over 300 retailer, brand, manufacturer, supplier, service provider, government, academic, and nonprofit members.
    ‍
  • Our alliance catalyzes pre-competitive collaboration for maximum impact, anchored by our stewardship of the Higg Index frameworks — implemented through the Worldly technology platform — and recent acquisition of the Better Buying and Sustainable Furnishings Council tools. While these methodologies are central to our work, they are part of a broader strategy to mobilize collective action, challenge industry norms, and build an industry that gives back more than it takes to the planet and its people. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index—a suite of tools that assess and measure the social and environmental performance of the value chain and the environmental impacts of products.
    ‍
  • Open website →
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Textile Exchange

  • Textile Exchange is a global non-profit driving beneficial impacts on climate and nature across the fashion, textile, and apparel industry. It guides a growing community of brands, manufacturers, and farmers towards more purposeful production from the very start of the supply chain.
    ‍
  • Their goal is to help the industry to achieve a 45% reduction in the emissions that come from producing fibers and raw materials by 2030, while keeping its focus holistic and interconnected and seeking to improve the state of our freshwater, soil health, and biodiversity too.
    ‍
  • Their core competency within the apparel alliance is in accelerating the adoption of responsible fibers and materials, through its industry tools, guides, responsible standards, and promotion of transparency and traceability.Textile Exchange guides leaders towards positive climate impact by starting at the source of textile production — raw materials and fibers.
    ‍
  • Open website →
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The ZDHC Foundation (ZDHC)

  • ZDHC enables brands and retailers in the textile, apparel, and footwear industries to implement sustainable chemical management best practices across the value chain. 

  • Through collaborative engagement, standard setting, and implementation, ZDHC is advancing the industry towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals. The ZDHC Foundation oversees implementation of the Roadmap to Zero Programme and is a global multi-stakeholder initiative of more than 400 Signatories within the fashion and footwear industry.

  • Their core competency within the apparel alliance is sustainable chemical management and related impact areas to deliver programs, tools, and data needed to support transparency, performance, and impact in the textile, apparel, leather and footwear.
    ‍
  • Open website →
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Our Progress

Align core competencies

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TE and SAC conference

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TE and SAC joined roadmap

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SAC and ZDHC agreement

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AII and ZDHC

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Framework for collective impact

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What's next

Something coming soon

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Something coming soon

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Something coming soon

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Our Work and Joint Initiatives

Supply Chain Taxonomy

Roadmap to Net Zero

Data Working Group

Data for Due Diligence Project

Supply Chain Taxonomy

  • This updated paper aims to establish a uniform classification system of the textiles, clothing, leather, and footwear supply chain. The goal is to align this system across all apparel alliance partners, developed in consultation with key industry stakeholders for input and calibration. The classification system is now publicly available to encourage widespread and consistent adoption across the industry.
Read the report

Industry Net Zero Alignment

We have aligned the apparel alliance on directing the industry towards seven interventions identified in the most recent, “Roadmap to Net Zero Report,” from the World Resources Institute and Apparel Impact Institute.

Open report

Aligning Data. Empowering Progress

The apparel alliance Data Working Group brings together data and reporting representatives from each of the four organizations to build the foundations for more collaborative, aligned data efforts across the textiles, clothing, leather and footwear industry. Together, by harmonizing existing practices and filling gaps, they are establishing consistent, interoperable data practices for clear alignment. This harmonized Supply Chain Taxonomy is part of a larger effort to align the four organizations and the broader industry.

A Unified Approach to Sustainability

The apparel, leather, textile and footwear industry has long struggled with inefficiencies in addressing sustainability. A lack of alignment between various initiatives has led to fragmented approaches, duplicative efforts, and "audit fatigue" for suppliers. To break this cycle, Cascale, Apparel Impact Institute and ZDHC are introducing groundbreaking initiatives: the Data Matrix and the Factory Improvement Journey.

More about initiative

How We'll Shift the Industry Towards a Carbon-Positive Future

We have aligned the apparel alliance on directing the industry towards seven interventions identified in the most recent, “Roadmap to Net Zero Report,” from the World Resources Institute and Apparel Impact Institute. 

Critical to reducing our carbon emissions, these interventions include:
1. Maximizing material efficiency
2. Scaling sustainable materials and practices
3. Accelerating the development of innovative materials
4. Maximizing energy efficiency
5. Eliminating coal in manufacturing
6. Shifting to 100% renewable electricity
7. Advancing circular business models
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Download the report to understand your role and opportunities on the path to net-zero. 

Download

Data for Due Diligence Project: A Unified Approach to Sustainability

The apparel, leather, textile and footwear industry has long struggled with inefficiencies in addressing sustainability. A lack of alignment between various initiatives has led to fragmented approaches, duplicative efforts, and "audit fatigue" for suppliers. To break this cycle, Cascale, Apparel Impact Institute and ZDHC are introducing groundbreaking initiatives: the Data Matrix and the Factory Improvement Journey.

Read more

We all have a role to play, including YOU.

Whether you are a veteran in sustainability our just getting started, we are here to help you navigate the road to becoming a climate leader.

Where would you like to start? 

Get in Touch