On October 3rd, the Manufacturer Climate Action Program (MCAP) was launched by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) in collaboration with Nike and Target. The program is an extension of the SAC’s Decarbonisation Program and is designed to encourage reductions in carbon emissions within the fashion manufacturing sector.

The MCAP will guide members in measuring carbon emissions and setting science-aligned targets for both Scope 1 and 2 emissions. For now, the program will not include Scope 3 measurements, as it believes these might deter manufacturers from actively addressing carbon emissions.

The SAC is a diverse group, comprising over 280 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and nonprofit affiliates. Joyce Tsoi, the SAC’s director of collective action programs, emphasized the need for collective action to combat climate change and achieve emissions targets in the fashion industry.

The MCAP initiative has been derived from Target’s Supplier Engagement Program and the Supplier Climate Action Program (SCAP), a collaboration between Nike and its suppliers, in consultation with the World Resource Institute (WRI). It aims to support the textile industry in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and reduce global emissions from the sector by 45% by 2030.

A recent report by Cornell University’s Global Labor Institute (GLI) and Schroders warns that countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Pakistan could face a 22% drop in export earnings by 2030 due to the challenges posed by climate change on fashion production facilities. The report highlights the insufficient preparedness of fashion supply chains for physical climate risks.

Some fashion industry players are increasingly adopting science-based approaches to address climate and environmental concerns. In June of this year, major fashion brands such as Kering, Chanel, Adidas, and H&M pledged to adhere to new industry-specific guidelines for science-based targets related to nature.

The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) launched a guide in collaboration with the Fashion Pact and Conservation International, offering insights to establish measurable nature targets in the fashion sector.