The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has introduced the Heat Stress Toolkit, a set of practical resources to help manufacturers and brands manage rising temperatures and reduce heat-related risks in the apparel and footwear industry. The toolkit provides ready-to-use resources for companies and manufacturing facilities to protect workers from heat-related risks.

Along with guidance for manufacturing facilities and a supporting workbook, the toolkit includes implementation guidelines for brands and a standard questionnaire for suppliers. These resources aim to make heat management practices more consistent across the industry.

The Brand Implementation Guidelines and Supplier Survey were developed by the AAFA Heat Guidance Working Group. The manufacturer-focused resources and workbook were prepared by the Fashion Producer Collective, with support from the working group.

Contributors to the initiative included Elevate Textiles, Epic Group, Shahi Exports and YKK Corporation. Feedback was also received from organisations such as Crescent Bahuman, MAS Capital, TAL Apparel, Yee Chain International and the Vaada Hope Foundation.

The toolkit is based on key principles like protecting workers from heat stress and identifying it at an early stage. It also says that brands and manufacturers should share responsibility for the costs and possible production disruptions involved in improving heat protection.