Members of the SAC include retailers such as Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) and Adidas as well as a number of government and non-government groups. It is working to measure and reduce the environmental and social impact that apparel and footwear producers have on the world.
To begin with, the retailer has said it is focusing on energy and water use among suppliers, with early efforts already showing that energy efficiency can produce cost savings as well as improving carbon emission outputs.
Suppliers at the recent retailers Global Vendor Conference in Hong Kong were also given access to the SAC’s sustainability index, known generally as the Higg Index.
Commenting on the move Jeannette Ferran Astorga, vice president of corporate social responsibility at Ann Inc., said: “Our focus on energy and water using the SAC’s Higg Index will allow us to set benchmarks and improvement goals while working collaboratively with our suppliers to demonstrate real improvements in performance on the ground.”
Ann Inc. has said it will utilise its current supplier capacity platform to provide suppliers with access to best practice.
Paula Zusi, executive vice president and chief supply chain officer, added: “At Ann Inc. we have a strong commitment to improving the future of the communities where we work and positively impacting future generations.
“We are pleased that our suppliers share our values and are also focused on driving environmental sustainability throughout their businesses.”
