The apparel & textiles industry contributes significantly to global warming.

Our planet is warming way too fast.

It’s time for action. It’s time for industry innovation. It’s time for Scandinavian and EU leadership.

Why STICA?

The global apparel and textiles industry produces a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) thereby contributing to global warming. The latest analyses estimate the industry’s contribution to be anywhere between 2% and 8% of global GHG emissions — and if it continues with business as usual, industry emissions will continue to rise. 

A majority of our industry’s GHG emissions are generated within raw material production, supply chain processing and assembly, and in customer product care and end of life disposal. 

 

Because these impacts are outside the direct control of any single company, all actors, including brands and retailers, need to work together and engage with suppliers, governments, financial organizations and consumers if we are to make a difference.

Given the seriousness of the situation, industry stakeholders are expecting companies to do more than just acknowledge the problem. They want to see concrete and significant progress.

Climate Action in Apparel

What does climate action look like for the apparel and textiles industry? It involves setting science-based targets for GHG reductions. It means creating realistic, time-bound plans for reducing GHG emissions and for reporting on progress on a regular basis. It means working together to create solutions that can’t be developed or implemented without collaboration. It means finding ways of using the climate challenge as a driver for business innovation, thereby creating competitive advantages. It means working with policy makers to develop sufficient structural incentives for accelerating ambitious climate action, which must include reducing overconsumption and overproduction.

The Paris Agreement aims to hold temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as recommended by the IPCC. This translates into achieving net-zero emissions by the second half of this century. To help achieve these goals, The Sustainable Fashion Academy launched STICA. STICA’s aim is to support apparel and textiles organizations as well as the entire apparel and textile industry to reduce their climate impacts and transform the industry. Ultimately, STICA also wants to ensure Scandinavian countries and the global industry do more than their share – well before 2045. This is the only way to avert the most serious consequences resulting from global warming.

Michael Schragger, Initiative Co-founder & Director, STICA

“The latest analysis from the scientific community is undeniable. We can no longer wait to take action. We need bold, courageous and smart leadership. By holding companies and other stakeholders accountable, and by helping the most serious of companies to set targets, report their progress and act, we can demonstrate what is currently possible as well as what additional incentives are needed to enable the rapid transformation of the apparel and textiles industry. This is a state of emergency. It is time we started acting like it.”

Initiative Aims

The Scandinavian Textile Initiative for Climate Action:

Supports apparel and textile companies operating in both Scandinavian, European and international markets to set science-based targets and reduce their greenhouse gases in line with a 1.5°C warming pathway, as outlined by the United Nations Framework on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.

Provides an independent, neutral, non-competitive platform for companies and organizations to demonstrate accountability by publicly reporting on their progress on a regular basis and also to learn best practices for reducing their GHG emissions. Learn more about our Climate Action Program & Network and view STICA’s annual Progress Reports.

Advocates for ambitious climate legislation at the industry level and supports the development of joint projects and cross-sector collaborations in order to reduce the apparel and textile industry’s GHG emissions overall. To learn more about STICA’s industry action, click here.

WHAT SIGNATORY MEMBERS ARE SAYING ABOUT STICA
Sara Molnar, CEO, Peak Performance
“We are running out of time! If we want to fight climate change we must move quickly, effectively and together. That is why I am proud that Peak Performance is one of the founding members of STICA. Through STICA we will improve our business practices, collaborate with industry peers and accelerate climate action for the entire industry.”
Filip Ekvall, Regional Manager North Europe, H&M
“We must take action for our future. At H&M we want to use our size and scale to lead the change towards a circular and climate positive fashion industry. But together we can do even more. That is why we are very proud to be founding members of STICA where we can use our influence to support a positive transformation to reduce climate impact throughout the whole industry.”
Elisabeth Peregi, President & CEO, Kappahl
“We at Kappahl take responsibility for the impact our business has on the planet. Since 2017, we have reduced Kappahl’s emissions by seven percent, but that is not enough. We know that we need to act now, that we only have ten years to adapt. In order to reduce the climate impact in our value chain, we need to both take actions ourselves as well as participate in industry-wide initiatives with clear goals. Kappahl has, together with STICA, committed ourselves to reducing emissions in line with the UN’s 1.5 degree target. To achieve lasting change, cooperation towards the common goal is absolutely crucial.”
WHAT STAKEHOLDERS ARE SAYING ABOUT STICA
Eva Eiderström, Director of the Department of Ecolabelling and Green Consumption, The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation
“Over the years, The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation has highlighted the major impacts that the textile industry has on the environment and our climate. During this time, we have seen the industry develop and increase its insight into the importance of acting to address these challenges. But if we are to reach the 1.5°C target, a faster adjustment of the industry’s business models, and our consumption patterns is required. Both collaborations and political instruments are needed to strive toward reduced new consumption. To achieve this, the importance of collaboration is crucial, and we see STICA as a natural and important part of the continued work toward a more sustainable fashion industry.”
Johanna Myrman Kristoffersen, Deputy Director of Food, Climate and Energy Dept, WWF
“Today, the fashion industry is responsible for around 4 percent of global GHG emissions, and the industry is expected to grow. To stay on the 1.5°C pathway, we have ten years to halve emissions. We can do it, but we need to work together and speed up our efforts. Here, industry initiatives like STICA play a significant role in achieving this.”
Johan Falk, Head of Exponential Roadmap Initiative
“To tackle the climate emergency, we need to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by latest 2050 – according to the “Carbon Law”. It is critical to mobilize the entire business sector in order to deliver on the 1.50C ambition. To halve emissions before 2030, business need to switch to renewable energy, to low-carbon materials and logistics, and implement circular business models. STICA is a great example of an industry initiative driving climate action to deliver on these bold targets. STICA is also a contributor to the 1.5°C Business Playbook and a supporter of the SME Climate Hub, that helps small and medium sized businesses accelerate climate action.”

INITIATIVE FOUNDERS

COMPANY SIGNATORIES 2024
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