Sustainable Apparel Coalition Launches Higg Co.

SAN FRANCISCO-The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) announces the launch of Higg Co., which it describes as “a public benefit company that will develop the technology that delivers the Higg Index.” The Higg Index is an assessment tool that measures sustainability performance by manufacturers and brands.

With the launch, the SAC says it will continue to focus on its multi-stakeholder collaboration aimed at social and environmental improvements in the apparel, footwear, and textile industries.

“The SAC’s vision of an industry that produces no unnecessary environmental harm and has a positive social impact remains as vital as when we started,” SAC interim executive director Amina Razvi says. “Spinning out the technology capability enables both organizations to focus on accelerating progress towards that vision.”

Former SAC CEO Jason Kibbey will lead Higg Co. at its San Francisco-based headquarters. Along with providing Higg Index tools, SAC says the newly-formed company will offer custom solutions “to allow companies to integrate measurable data directly into their internal systems, better-enabling decisions throughout the enterprise.”

“With the spinout of Higg Co., we will provide the industry the trusted technology it needs to be able to implement the Higg Index at scale,” Kibbey states. “Our customers rely on strong technology to drive the social and environmental improvements that will reshape the apparel and footwear industry, and other industries in the future.”

Initially founded in 2009 by Walmart and Patagonia, the SAC has continued to expand its efforts over the past decade in sustainability and performance measurement. In early 2018, the organization formed a strategic relationship with the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles to improve working conditions in the textile industry.

For more information, visit https://www.higg.com.