The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) – which counts Top 40 supplier SanMar (asi/84863), HanesBrands (asi/59528) and Top 40 supplier Gildan (asi/56842) among its members – has rebranded as Cascale, noting that it’s entering “a new phase of positive impact.”

Cascale’s new name refers to “collective action” and “scaled ambitions.”

Cascale, which spans more than 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, industry associations and nonprofits around the globe, says it has a singular vision: to catalyze impact at scale and give back more than it takes from the planet and its people.

“Cascale’s vision reflects my mission to inspire responsible businesses that commit to transparency and benefit people and the planet,” said Rick Ridgeway, co-founder of Cascale and former vice president of sustainability and public engagement at Patagonia. “Its enduring, collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to sustainability have delivered tremendous impact – but we still have work to do, together. 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 organization that is close to my heart.”

The “cas” in Cascale is “SAC” reversed. The first two letters of the new name also refer to “collective action,” with “scale” at the end, referencing “scaled ambitions,” according to Cascale. The new logo’s elements symbolize the organization’s three member categories and external stakeholders.

“Collaboration is at the heart of creating positive change in the industry,” said Krishna Manda, Cascale’s vice chair and vice president of corporate sustainability at Lenzing Group. “Just as we’ve emphasized before, no single player can drive this alone. Cascale’s impactful work has set the stage for a transformative journey.”

The 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, used by businesses and organizations to measure, evaluate and improve social and environmental impact in the textile, apparel and footwear industry. The Higg Index has more than 24,000 annual users. As the user base grew beyond apparel to include categories such as home furnishings, bags and outdoor goods, the need for a name change became apparent. As of January 2024, 10% of Cascale’s members serve or operate in product categories adjacent to apparel and footwear.

Cascale says it drives impact at scale through three foundational pillars: combating climate change, creating decent work for all and building a “nature positive” future. Its Decarbonization program, launched in 2022, has a goal for members to achieve a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. In 2023, the organization launched a Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) to help members achieve emissions reduction goals.

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