OCA joins Sustainable Apparel Coalition on Sustainable Cotton Farming

The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) to promote what it refers to as “necessary improvements” throughout the supply chain.

The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA), a multi-stakeholder organization, says that by joining the SAC, it is continuing its commitment to a collaborative sector approach to “unleash the organic cotton effect” – organic cotton’s potential for positive impact, from field to fashion, for people and the planet.

It goes on to say that the move will also assist OCA to promote and implement its 2030 Strategy, which aims to establish resilient farming communities and ecosystems for a future-proof organic cotton sector. OCA will collaborate with SAC and expert members to align on ideas and methods for gathering and analyzing data from OCA’s Farm Program in India and Pakistan in order to guide the establishment of robust environmental and social impact targets.

SAC, founded in 2011, is a global industry-wide group of over 250 apparel, footwear, and textile brands, retailers, suppliers, service providers, trade associations, non-profits, NGOs, and academic institutions dedicated to reducing environmental impact and promoting social justice throughout the global value chain.

The SAC recently celebrated its first decade of success, which culminated in the creation of the Higg Index, a suite of instruments for standardizing the measurement of value chain sustainability. According to the report, these technologies have the potential to alter the garment sector by offering the building blocks required to help make wiser and more informed decisions about the items they manufacture, how they make them, and how they collaborate to lessen social and environmental impacts.

As a member of the SAC, OCA will provide data and resources to the Higg Index, which allows businesses to proactively monitor and manage concerns such as environmental stewardship, working conditions, and supplier relations.

Thomas Mason, OCA program manager, sustainability, and impact, said that he believes that by joining global industry groups, OCA can move the dial on the critical improvements that are required across the supply chain. As a farmer-centric organization, their priority is to improve the livelihoods of existing and transitioning organic cotton farmers in India and Pakistan. They can collaborate with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition to improve the social and environmental implications of farming by utilizing on-the-spot scientific data from the Higg Index, which will provide a greater knowledge of sustainability and impact across its operations.

Amina Razvi, SAC executive director, said that they welcome the accession of OCA to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and look forward to its engagement in this industry-wide initiative in sustainability. Having OCA as a member broadens the reach of their industry impact and accelerates the shift they’re making toward responsible industry behavior.

The SAC has unveiled a new strategic plan with the goal of transforming the business to have an exponential impact. The SAC will work with its members to increase industry responsibility in order to achieve its goals, which include decreasing sector-wide emissions by nearly half by 2030 and supporting safe and equitable working conditions across the global value chain.