Core Insights - The Energy and Carbon Benchmark aims to provide a voluntary reference point for textile facilities to analyze energy use by individual processes, allowing for more accurate comparisons [1][2] - The initiative seeks to avoid audit fatigue by integrating with existing systems like the Higg Facility Environmental Module and Open Supply Hub, rather than introducing a new reporting layer [2] - The benchmark is designed to complement existing data collection efforts by adding a process map that details specific functions and energy sources at textile facilities [4] Industry Context - The fashion industry's carbon emissions increased nearly 8% in 2023 compared to the previous year, contributing to nearly 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions [5] - Textile processing is identified as the largest source of emissions within the supply chain, accounting for approximately 55% of total emissions [5] - The benchmark was developed to provide a consistent method for comparing decarbonization projects across the supply chain, enhancing the assessment of facilities against industry and regional standards [3]

The Energy and Carbon Benchmark is designed to help reduce the fashion industry’s carbon footprint by providing clearer metrics to measure supplier performance and energy efficiency. The tool allows the calculation of process-level performance, distinguishing between facilities that carry out singular or multiple processing activities on-site. According to Aii, the aim is to establish consistent metrics and support collective progress toward industry-wide decarbonisation. The launch comes as apparel sec ...