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]