The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) released the Higg Index 2.0 and will now shift its attention to helping suppliers learn how to use the web-based tool to improve their own environmental and labor practices.



The newest version of the Higg Index adds tools brands can use to assess footwear, chemicals management and fair labor practices, as well as a more sophisticated user interface designed to facilitate industry-wide adoption. It is the result of 14 months of testing by dozens of apparel and footwear companies, including many in the athletic and outdoor space.

 

The index represents the SAC's initial effort to lead the industry toward a shared vision of sustainability built upon a common approach for measuring and evaluating the impact apparel and footwear supply chains have on the environment, workers and society at large. The initiative comes amid growing pressure from Greenpeace, Four Paws, Maquila Solidarity Network and other environmental, labor and animal welfare groups as well as a growing realization that only by working together can they ensure adoption of more sustainable practices across the global supply chain.
SAC members include Adidas, Asics, Columbia Sportswear, Ecco, Fenix Outdoor AB, Kering, Marmot, New Balance, Nike, Patagonia, Puma, VF Corp. L.L. Bean, Mountain Equipment Co-op and REI as well as most major department stores, Target and Walmart.

 

The Higgs Index builds on prior work by several organizations, including the Outdoor Industry Association's Eco Index, Nike’s Apparel Environmental Design Tool, Global Social Compliance Program (GSCP) reference tools, and Social/Labor Best Practice Tools (e.g., SAI Social Fingerprint, FLA Sustainable Compliance Initiative, etc.).
While the index will continue to evolve, the SAC will now shift its attention from building the index to the monumental task of teaching offshore suppliers how to use it.