In addition to relying on fossil-based energy, the fashion and apparel industry uses significant amounts of land for growing fibers like cotton, water for irrigation and for dyeing and finishing, and chemicals in both agriculture and material production. This often leads to severe environmental impacts, including water scarcity and pollution, biodiversity loss, and microplastic pollution, to name just a few. These impacts—along with new legislation and evolving stakeholder expectations—create both a need and an opportunity for SFA and STICA company signatories to expand our focus beyond climate action and address other essential environmental areas relevant to the apparel and textile industry. More specifically:
European Sustainability Reporting Standards requirements (CSRD, CSDDD) mandate reporting on a wider range of environmental areas in addition to climate, including water and pollution, biodiversity, waste and circularity.
While smaller companies may not be required by law to report on these areas in the near term, ESRS will establish new industry standards that all companies, regardless of size, will need to adhere to.
Joining STICA+ will save time and resources, as working in isolation is less effective. Most STICA members can attest to this.
Being part of this SFA platform ensures the integrity in our work and enables us to drive change at an industry level, meeting the expectations of responsible companies and the urgent needs of the world.
STICA+ apparel companies are industry leaders because they are committed to setting environmental targets, reporting on their impacts and progress, while advocating for industry change overall.
Scroll down to read additional testimonials.
STICA+ is structured with overarching goals to:
Ensure credible calculation and reporting methodologies, targets and guidelines, while offering a platform for learning and collaborative action.
Ensure accountability, track progress and promote companies demonstrating leadership.
Drive industry-wide change and transformation.
The initial focus of this expanded initiative is on learning and development, rather than on requirements for calculations, target setting and reporting. Once the initiative has progressed sufficiently, SFA will introduce requirements for reporting, target setting, transition plans, and more. As with STICA, developing the foundational analysis and proposals for this will take time.
However, many companies will be required to report on additional material categories as early as 2026. Therefore, STICA+ will aim to help these companies in meeting these legislative requirements.
During 2025, STICA+ will focus on the following three preliminary topics:
To cover the costs associated with the development and execution of the program, signatories are asked to invest a yearly fee:
20,000 SEK / 1,760 EUR for organizations with a yearly turnover of less than 150 Million SEK / 13 Million EUR
40,000 SEK / 3,520 EUR for organizations with a yearly turnover between 150-1,000 Million SEK / 13-88 Million EUR
45,000 SEK / 3,960 EUR for organizations with a yearly turnover over 1,000 Million SEK / 88 Million EUR
To find out more about the STICA+ Company Action Program, please contact Michael at michael@sustainablefashionacademy.org. When registering for a program, please refer to SFA’s Terms & Conditions.
If you have questions we are here to help.
No, it’s not required. However, given STICA+’s vision and goals, companies should demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability and understand that participation involves both developing their own goals and contributing to the initiative’s development. STICA+ is intended as a long-term commitment. Contact us if you’d like to learn more!