Burlington Industries, a developer of apparel solutions, is believed to be one of the first to give transparency and sustainability statistics for fabrics utilizing the Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI).

Burlington Industries, which is a subsidiary of Elevate Textiles, is using the platform to give consumers Life Cycle Assessment and comparison data. It also discloses the precise materials utilized in the design of a brand's fabrics, as well as the environmental impact of those materials.

Burlington was eager to make the technology available to customers because it believes it will aid them in achieving their own impact reduction goals through the development of new products.

Nelson Bebo, vice president of performance fabrics at Burlington, said that they’re excited to be among the first to offer this type of innovation, further helping our customers in designing and creating the most sustainable goods.

Bebo added that all Burlington operations and advancements are focused on sustainability, and our brand has a strong commitment to reducing environmental impact. They're thrilled to have the chance to promote the advancement of transparency through tools like the Higg MSI, not just in the domain of sustainability and compliance, but also within its industry. As they all strive for a more sustainable future matched with their customers' requirements, Burlington will continue to seek significant industry alliances.

The Higg Materials Sustainability Index (MSI) is a tool that allows the apparel industry to assess and rate the environmental effect of materials used in garment and footwear design and production.

With access to verified data that compares the impact of different materials, such as cotton, polyester, and leather, the tool encourages and supports transparency, allowing designers to make more educated product selections and reduce the environmental impact of new items.

Higg assesses the following five environmental effects of natural and manufactured materials: Chemistry, Global warming potential, Nutrient pollution in water, Water scarcity and Fossil fuel depletion.

Burlington has been using the Higg Environmental Module (FEM) since 2017, and has since incorporated further Higg products, such as the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM) and Higg MSI.

Earlier this year, the company formally joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, which produced the Higg Index, to broaden its engagement in the coalition's efforts to promote sustainability in the apparel industry.

Jol Mertens, director of Higg Product Tools, said that supply chain openness and collaboration are necessary to understand the environmental consequences of specific material and design decisions. Burlington is helping its customers to make better product choices and lower their environmental impacts at scale by sharing customizable material information derived using the Higg MSI.

The Higg Index is a set of indicators that measure sustainability performance and drive supply chain transparency and decision-making. It allows suppliers, manufacturers, brands, and retailers to assess materials, products, facilities, and processes based on environmental performance, social labor practices, and product design choices.