18 Nov 2015

Lowell, MA, USA - Intertek, a leading provider of quality solutions to industries around the world announces that it has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and will use their sustainability measurement tool, the Higg Index, to drive environmental responsibility across the supply chain.

Membership to SAC means that Intertek joins nearly 160 global brands, retailers and manufacturers, as well as government, non-profit environmental organizations, and academic institutions that are collectively committed to improving supply chain sustainability in the apparel and footwear industries.

Intertek will contribute both data and resources to support the Higg Index, which gauges environmental sustainability and drives supply chain decision-making to improve efficiency and sustainability impact. The Higg Index is an open source, indicator-based tool that allows suppliers, manufacturers, brands and retailers to evaluate materials, products, facilities and processes based on environmental and product design choices.

Intertek performs a vital role in helping clients achieve environmental sustainability and tackle climate change through a broad range of solutions. These include addressing immediate environmental and social concerns to the development of strategic portfolio initiatives, such as stakeholder engagement programs and ethical supply chain management tools, and reporting initiatives.

“We are pleased to join the SAC and feel confident this will have a positive impact on product sustainability, and become a model for how industries can collaborate in making a positive impact on value chain performance” says Christophe Liebon, Vice President of Intertek Supplier Management.

SAC CEO added, “We welcome the addition of Intertek to the Coalition, and look forward to their participation in this industry-wide effort in sustainability. Leveraging Intertek’s expertise, widens the scope of our impact within the apparel industry and accelerates the change we’re making towards responsible industry actions.”

There are currently more than 150 members of the SAC, the majority of which are global brands and retailers including: Adidas, C&A, Gap, H&M, Kohl’s, Levi’s, Macy’s, Nike, Puma, REI, Target, and VF Corporation. More information on SAC, the complete Higg Index, and a full list of members can be found at www.apparelcoalition.org.

For media inquiries, please contact info@apparelcoalition.org.

Contacts

For further information, please contact:

For Inquiries
EMEA: Jia.Liu@intertek.com
Americas: Mallory.Mcconnell@intertek.com
Asia: Samuel.Lau@intertek.com  

For Market Inquiries
Lauren Whittemore
Global Marketing Manager, Business Assurance
Tel: +1 978.614.0602
Email: Lauren.Whittemore@intertek.com

About Intertek

Intertek is a leading quality solutions provider to industries worldwide. From auditing and inspection, to testing, training, advisory, quality assurance and certification, Intertek adds value for its customers by helping improve the quality and safety of their products, assets and processes. With a network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices and over 38,000 people in more than 100 countries, Intertek supports companies’ success in the global marketplace, by helping customers to meet end users’ expectations for safety, sustainability, performance, integrity and desirability in virtually any market worldwide. For more information, visit www.intertek.com.

About the Sustainable Apparel Coalition

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition, representing more than one-third of the global apparel and footwear industries, was formed by sustainability leaders and leading environmental and social organizations to address current social and environmental challenges. Recognizing that improved supply chain practices are both a business imperative and an opportunity, the Coalition seeks to lead a shared vision of industry supply chain sustainability through the creation and use of the Higg Index. In measuring and evaluating apparel and footwear product sustainability performance through the Higg Index, the Coalition aims to spotlight priorities for action and opportunities for technological innovation.