Situation

Patagonia and Walmart both saw a need to create a pre-competitive alliance of apparel companies to develop standardized metrics of sustainability performance throughout the supply chain. How might Blu Skye help create an enduring industry association to align stakeholders?

Goal

“Stand up” a pre-competitive coalition with a bias toward action.

Our Role

• Worked with Coalition co-founders Walmart and Patagonia to convene and align recognized sustainability leaders behind a common purpose.

• Managed the design, development, pilot test, and implementation of an industry-wide Index to measure the sustainability impacts of apparel products.

• Aided in the development of a non-profit organization including incorporation, structure, governance, and initial staffing as well as providing overall program management support.

Results

• Launched the world’s leading sustainability industry consortium, the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, with more than 250 global members with combined annual apparel and footwear revenues exceeding $845 billion in 2021.

• Created the Higg Index a suite of tools that standardizes value chain sustainability measurements for all industry participants.

• Spun off Higg, a public-benefit technology company that enables companies to measure, manage and share the social and environmental impacts through applications of the Higg Index.

Feedback

“Through their skills and passion for creating big change through industry collaboration, Blu Skye has played an essential role in the creation of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and development of the Apparel Sustainability Index.”

—Rick Ridgeway, Patagonia

“I continue to be impressed with Blu Skye’s passion, knowledge and commitment to drive the sustainability efforts of the SAC; their ability to facilitate such a diverse group of companies effectively and efficiently is World Class!!”

—Scott Lercel, Target