A coalition of 30+ companies and environmental organizations has come together to create an industry-wide sustainability assessment tool for the apparel and footwear industries. The sustainability assessment tool will assessment resource use in the supply chain, such as water and energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, labor practices, etc.

Importantly, the coalition members will work together, sharing information to improve sustainability.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition started when Patagonia and Wal-Mart teamed up to create a sustainability assessment tool for Wal-Mart’s supply chain. Patagonia and Wal-Mart may be strange bedfellows. However, Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia, is pragmatic and moving Wal-Mart on sustainability would have wide-ranging impacts.

(One favorite anecdote I recall is when Ford Motor Company asked to license the Patagonia name to brand its Ford Explorer. Rather than turn them down, Chouinard said yes– if Ford would become a member of 1% for the Planet.)

(Source: www.greencottonblog.com )