Cradle to Cradle ultimately envisions a future in which manufacturers do not just produce without generating any fugitive emission, but where they positively impact the energy supply of their community. In the C2C Certified™ Products Program [1], manufacturers measure energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and develop strategies for improvement as part of the certification process.

For the apparel industry in particular, more leading global brands openly publicise their efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, and define specific reduction targets for themselves and their suppliers. Brands will increasingly expect their suppliers to take measures that limit or even eliminate their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.

For manufacturers, there are two significant advantages in measuring energy usage and improving renewable energy sourcing and carbon offsetting:

• Cost savings: Being able to measure the energy consumption in the facilities enables manufacturers to analyse and identify the most energy-intensive machines and processes.
• Better relationships with brands: Brands are favouring those manufacturers that source renewable energy and minimise their carbon footprint in the production process.

Accurately measuring energy usage is the first step in the C2C Certified journey, and Pratibha Syntex, an apparel manufacturer based in India, showcases the benefits in this video.