New coalition takes over Eco Index
03/03/2011
The group will work during 2011 on a series of footwear-specific projects.
Founding members include HanesBrands, adidas, Patagonia, Lenzing, the Outdoor Industry Association, REI, Pentland Brands, Mountain Equipment Co-op, New Balance, Nike, Target and Wal-Mart. Members will work out a funding strategy in the course of 2011 as part of an effort to establish a permanent structure for the body. The possibilities include a tiered fees structure to allow smaller companies to take part.
The group has immediately taken over the work of the Eco Index, launched by the European Outdoor Group (EOG) in July last year.
The EOG welcomed the move, saying it hoped that the Eco Index, which is an industry-wide tool for measuring the environmental and social performance of products and supply chains and is the result of three years’ work by the EOG, would be adopted by more apparel and footwear companies.
More than 100 companies have carried out pilot exercises using the Eco Index so far. Companies will be able to work with the new coalition to pilot its running of the index, initially for apparel. At the same time, the coalition wants companies to take part in preparing a specific index for footwear.
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