Sustainable Apparel Coalition Renamed As Cascale
The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), a global nonprofit alliance that empowers collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices has been rebranded as Cascale.
Cascale spans over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, industry associations, and NGOs/nonprofits around the globe.
“Cascale’s members are united by a singular vision: To catalyse impact at scale and give back more than they take to the planet and its people,” Cascale said in a press release.
“Cascale’s vision reflects my mission to inspire responsible businesses that commit to transparency and benefit people and the planet,” said Ridgeway, Cascale’s co-founder.
“Its enduring collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to sustainability has delivered tremendous impact – but we still have work to do, together,” Ridgeway added.
As Cascale evolves to address the needs of a broader scope of consumer goods beyond apparel and footwear, I’m proud to celebrate this new vision of an organisation that is close to my heart,” he stated.
SAC was founded in 2009 by Walmart and Patagonia to convene apparel industry stakeholders on a pre-competitive basis and develop a common approach to measuring sustainability.
In 2010, the SAC launched the Higg Index suite of tools, which are used by businesses and organisations to measure, evaluate, and improve social and environmental impact in the textile and apparel industry.
According to Cascale, each year, over 24,000 users rely on the Higg Index for improved benchmarking, reduced auditing, and proactive action.
As home furnishings, sporting and outdoor goods, and bags and luggage companies began joining the SAC and using the Higg Index tools, the organization identified the need for a more expansive name.
Cascale reflects its goal of scaling collective action. As of January 2024, 10 percent of Cascale’s members serve or operate in product categories adjacent to apparel and footwear.