Aligning Data to Restore Ecosystems

The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) support the apparel industry to drive collective action through tools, standards, best methods, collaborative roadmaps and program implementation. This ''Alliance'' of NGOs is working to restore rich ecosystems within identified hotspot regions/countries (e.g. Vietnam). Scalable and verified data along with monitoring is needed to inform meaningful insights and drive progress. Each ''Alliance'' member has data and we seek support to link these data sets to better assess and inform a more holistic ecosystem picture. With this expanded data set, manufacturing improvements can be made faster and with increased prioritization. Reducing carbon, improving water and reducing hazardous chemicals in apparel manufacturing would positively impact the lives of supply chain workers, their communities and their eco systems if scaled globally. 

We are in the decade of Climate Action, with only 9 years left to keep under 1.5 C temperature increase and avoid catastrophic global decline.  In order to achieve this goal, we need to scale proven programs by region, improving carbon, water, and chemical usage across apparel manufacturing thereby improving local ecosystems.  The Apparel Industry is realizing the multitude of solutions that must be implemented simultaneously in order to achieve public facing commitments to climate, water and biodiversity, such as a science based 45% reduction in carbon emissions. Therefore, we stand a moment of urgency and agency and only through collective and connected action can we accelerate the pace of adopting solutions.  

The textile, apparel & footwear industry is one of the biggest drivers of economic growth and incomes for developing countries but also one of the most resource intensive industries accounting for up to 5% of global emissions

Apparel and textile production, Vietnam’s third-largest source of export revenue, is responsible for up to 10% of all energy consumed by industries in Vietnam. The industry is facing greater scrutiny of unsustainable environmental practices, but there’s an opportunity to address these systemic challenges through coordination and collaboration of data.

The ''Alliance'' of leading apparel NGOs is working to restore rich ecosystems within identified hotspot regions/countries (e.g. Vietnam). Scalable and verified data along with monitoring is needed to improve insights and accelerate change. Each ''Alliance'' member has data and we seek support to link these data sets to better assess and inform a more holistic ecosystem picture. With this expanded data set, manufacturing improvements can be made faster and with increased prioritization. Funding would enable the research needs, and potential identified partners, to connect data to ecosystems.  Research enables better connections to existing programs with at risk ecosystems. Given industry commitments to carbon, water and chemistry, facilities who verify their performance and thereby contribute to increase resilience in ecosystems will maintain business and grow.   This is preservation of a thriving industry that employs local economies/ citizens and drives GDP. Vietnam can increase competitiveness and increase revenues in apparel manufacturing.

The outcome is a much bigger impact for cleaner water and lower carbon emissions.

The apparel industry has an estimated 60 million supply chain workers globally. They work and live in the communities and ecosystems surrounding manufacturing facilities. By reducing carbon emissions, transitioning to clean energy, improving chemical and water management within apparel manufacturing, we will dramatically improve local ecosystems, create new jobs, and overall increase the quality of life for humans and their and their communities.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition has 250 global members, including more than 10,000  manufacturers using the Higg Index Facility Module, which work in equal partnership with brands and retailers as they solve current environmental and social issues with both local and global supply chains. This project will engage manufacturers in solution development and will be replicated across other global manufacturing regions where fragile ecosystems are at risk and require restoration.  

Now is the time to align, improve and leverage key sets of data to make these transitions rapidly, within a measurable, data-driven, science based approach.  This program leverages an industrial park level approach, as we broaden the set of manufacturing players who impact the local ecosystem.   To quote the old adage of “teach a man to fish, rather than give a man a fish,” our programs are developed and executed with local human resources.  Aii and it’s partners work with local human resources, best identified NGOs to scale these programs within a region.  In order to create economic stability in countries and regions, we need to create more sustainable supply chains.  We know that businesses who transition to sustainable practices are more resilient against marketplace forces (such as we observed in the recent pandemic), as well as future proof their company as preferred suppliers/ vendors to the world leading apparel brands and retailers, who due to public commitments like SBTi, will be force to drop supplier who are not meeting their social and environmental targets within very specific milestones over the upcoming years.  Aii and it’s partners are supporting local industry, thus local citizens, in maintaining and potentially growing their role and economic stability within the global textile & apparel value chain.

Provide scalable and verifiable monitoring and data collection to track ecosystem conditions

• The  ''Alliance'' currently gathers data in silos.  This project connects datasets for better insights and scaling solutions and brings the tools, standards, programs together into a holistic industry approach.

Aggregate local projects to enable access to financial capital.

• Aii leverages a blended capital approach to scale solutions at an aggregate local level. 

Create scalable economic opportunities for local communities 

• We leverage local human resources to scale our programs. Increased access to workers requires the alignment and digitalization of training, tools, data collection and management. 

The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) all have data sets unique to their individual organizations. In that respect, this ''Alliance'' of organizations is scaling their individual work through collaboration and programming. The ability to link these data sets to better assess and inform a more holistic ecosystem picture is still in concept phase. Funding would enable the research needs, and potential identified partners, to connect data to ecosystems.

The apparel & footwear industry, like many sectors, approaches sustainability in silos. As we described, this sector movement is roughly a decade in and has set ambitious and yet critical targets for 2030 (less that 10 years from now), such as  maintaining a temperature increase under 1.5 degrees celsius and protecting life on our planet.  We have reached a point where defragmentation of the multitude of datasets, tools, programs and initiatives is required in order to achieve success in the industry.  That means a data commons approach must be achieved quickly with alignment of proven solutions into a more holistic roadmap for year by year activity that meet the daunting goals of the coming decade and thereby preserve and restore regional and global ecosystems.   True innovation can and will emerge when the foundation is strong.  We cannot preach collective action to the industry, when our organizations we are working separately.  The “Alliance’ work will not end with us.  And yet, this phase of the work sets a very important trajectory toward (1) aligning all solutions to become scalable and (2) achieve ecosystem restoration.   Through this “Alliance” we are signaling the market in one consistent and consolidated direction and approach.   This foundational work must begin now and be piloted in local systems to demonstrate success and be ready to bring other more advanced-stage and oftentimes disruptive solutions to the table.  Future phases of the work depend on this major first step.

600 people in 2021, estimate 1,000 people in 2022, 10,000 people in 2026

Currently the Higg Index tools are used by over 700 facilities (2020) in Vietnam with numbers increasing each year.

Aii’s programming uses 3rd party verified data to ensure environmental impact results. This same methodology and rigor will be applied to connecting data sets from three organizations.

The SAC’s Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM) is one of the industry’s most trusted and commonly adopted tools to measure a facility’s environmental performance in the value chain. It was created to offer the industry a single, comprehensive assess- ment for global facilities, eliminating the need for redundant audits. Hosted on the Higg platform, facilities can easily share their results with value chain partners and compare their performance against industry peers. The Higg FEM  measures impacts around the following metrics: 

• Energy usage and fuel type

• GHG emissions

• Water usage

• Wastewater 

• Air Emissions

• Waste

• Chemical management 

By leveraging industry wide data on common metrics, we can report on baseline metrics as well as on year over year progress. 

This program involves the teams of Aii, SAC and ZDHC.  We will have at least 8 staff members working on this phase of the project.  We will also use the resources of 2 consultants with a firm who has been working on our alignment engagement since mid 2020. 

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) traces its origins to 2009, when Walmart and Patagonia wrote a joint letter inviting CEOs of leading global companies to co-develop an index that would measure the environmental impact of their products. Competitors began to collaborate on the Higg Index - a comprehensive set of tools that would enable brands, retailers, and manufacturers to track, measure, and manage their social and environmental impacts.  The Sustainable Apparel Coalition was created in 2010 by 19 founding members to further implement the Higg Index across the industry.  

The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii) rolled out of the SAC in 2018 to play the role of driving solutions to scale, in order to assist the industry in reaching specific targets related to climate, water, chemistry and waste.  It was created to align with organizations such as SAC, Textile Exchange and ZDHC to play the role of impact management, funding and reporting. Today, Aii works with over 30 brands/retailers and their suppliers/ manufacturers to bring programs into collective action.

Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) is a group of apparel and footwear brands and retailers working together to lead the industry towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals by 2020  ZDHC was started in 2011, mostly as a response to the Greenpeace DeTox campaign. Part of the initial work established a Joint Roadmap that demonstrated the collaborative efforts and steps needed to lead the apparel and footwear industry towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals for all products across pathways by 2020. 

Aii prides itself on being a globally diverse team with core staff in Asia and throughout the U.S. The organization is composed of various ages, genders, races, and sexual orientations. As an equal opportunity employer, Aii believes that there is strength in diversity, which remains a driving principle of the organization and a major contributor to its success.

The Clean by Design program inherently supports female garment workers, who typically make up the majority of the factory workforce, by setting higher sustainability standards that impact them personally, as well as their neighboring communities. Manufacturing tends to take place in areas that have lower socioeconomic communities, and by lowering greenhouse gas emissions, the program is improving their quality of life.

Our current Board of Directors has 5 members, of which 2 are black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and 3 are women.  As we expand our Board membership and grow our Advisory Council (a key part of leadership as we grow), we continue to seek even more diverse, equitable and inclusive voices at the table.  

In 2021, we are participating in the early phase development of a program designed to foster the growth of more BIPOC into sustainability careers. Our participation in this work is greatly influencing our own hiring practices for full time, contract and internship resources.

We believe MIT Solve's unique expertise in data and technology will unlock so much potential for the apparel industry.

The ''Alliance'' of leading apparel NGOs is working to restore rich ecosystems within identified hotspot regions/countries (e.g. Vietnam). Scalable and verified data along with monitoring is needed to improve insights and accelerate change. Each ''Alliance'' member has data and we seek support to link these data sets to better assess and inform a more holistic ecosystem picture. With this expanded data set, manufacturing improvements can be made faster and with increased prioritization. Funding would enable the research needs, and potential identified partners, to connect data to ecosystems.  Research enables better connections to existing programs with at risk ecosystems. Given industry commitments to carbon, water and chemistry, facilities who verify their performance and thereby contribute to increase resilience in ecosystems will maintain business and grow.   This is preservation of a thriving industry that employs local economies/ citizens and drives GDP. Vietnam can increase competitiveness and increase revenues in apparel manufacturing.

The outcome is a much bigger impact for cleaner water and lower carbon emissions.

Scalable and verified data along with monitoring is needed to improve insights and accelerate change. With this expanded data set, manufacturing improvements can be made faster and with increased prioritization.

We would like to partner with organizations that can help us achieve industry goals such as 45% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.

The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) support the apparel industry to drive collective action through tools, standards, best methods, collaborative roadmaps and program implementation. This ''Alliance'' of NGOs is working to restore rich ecosystems within identified hotspot regions/countries (e.g. Vietnam). Scalable and verified data along with monitoring is needed. Each ''Alliance'' member has data and we seek support to link these data sets to better assess and inform a more holistic ecosystem picture. With this expanded data set, manufacturing improvements can be made faster and with increased prioritization. Reducing carbon, improving water and reducing hazardous chemicals in apparel manufacturing would positively impact the lives of supply chain workers, their communities and their eco systems if scaled globally. 

The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) support the apparel industry to drive collective action through tools, standards, best methods, collaborative roadmaps and program implementation. This ''Alliance'' of NGOs is working to restore rich ecosystems within identified hotspot regions/countries (e.g. Vietnam). Scalable and verified data along with monitoring is needed. Each ''Alliance'' member has data and we seek support to link these data sets to better assess and inform a more holistic ecosystem picture. With this expanded data set, manufacturing improvements can be made faster and with increased prioritization. Reducing carbon, improving water and reducing hazardous chemicals in apparel manufacturing would positively impact the lives of supply chain workers, their communities and their eco systems if scaled globally. 

The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) support the apparel industry to drive collective action through tools, standards, best methods, collaborative roadmaps and program implementation. This ''Alliance'' of NGOs is working to restore rich ecosystems within identified hotspot regions/countries (e.g. Vietnam). Scalable and verified data along with monitoring is needed. Each ''Alliance'' member has data and we seek support to link these data sets to better assess and inform a more holistic ecosystem picture. With this expanded data set, manufacturing improvements can be made faster and with increased prioritization. Reducing carbon, improving water and reducing hazardous chemicals in apparel manufacturing would positively impact the lives of supply chain workers, their communities and their eco systems if scaled globally. 

The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) support the apparel industry to drive collective action through tools, standards, best methods, collaborative roadmaps and program implementation. This ''Alliance'' of NGOs is working to restore rich ecosystems within identified hotspot regions/countries (e.g. Vietnam). Scalable and verified data along with monitoring is needed. Each ''Alliance'' member has data and we seek support to link these data sets to better assess and inform a more holistic ecosystem picture. With this expanded data set, manufacturing improvements can be made faster and with increased prioritization. Reducing carbon, improving water and reducing hazardous chemicals in apparel manufacturing would positively impact the lives of supply chain workers, their communities and their eco systems if scaled globally. 

The Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) support the apparel industry to drive collective action through tools, standards, best methods, collaborative roadmaps and program implementation. This ''Alliance'' of NGOs is working to restore rich ecosystems within identified hotspot regions/countries (e.g. Vietnam). Scalable and verified data along with monitoring is needed. Each ''Alliance'' member has data and we seek support to link these data sets to better assess and inform a more holistic ecosystem picture. With this expanded data set, manufacturing improvements can be made faster and with increased prioritization. Reducing carbon, improving water and reducing hazardous chemicals in apparel manufacturing would positively impact the lives of supply chain workers, their communities and their eco systems if scaled globally.