AFIRM and AFQA aim for supply chain harmonisation

Reporting on how a large number of key brands are collaborating to advance chemicals management and physical testing for the global supply chain.

California-based Apparel and Footwear International RSL Management (AFIRM) was founded in 2004 as a working group of 46 major international brands located in Europe, Asia and the USA. Members of this body meet together – either in-person or virtually – to discuss key issues concerning chemicals management in the global supply chain. These topics include the phasing out or limiting of restricted substances in order to meet established limits involved in the production of apparel, footwear and accessories.

According to the organisation’s facilitator, Nate Sponsler, AFIRM endeavours to help shape legislation, either by aligning with it or actively engaging with governments to elevate voluntary ‘best practice’ into law.

AFIRM operates several committees, which are responsible for such areas as data, restricted substances lists (RSLs), public policy and compliance.

Physical testing

Inspired by the success of AFIRM in harmonising and advancing chemicals management for the global supply chain, longtime members proposed a new collaboration with a focus on physical testing. This led to the establishment of an additional group – the Apparel and Footwear Quality Association (AFQA) – as a collaborative forum of companies which considers the physical testing of components and finished products.

The AFQA’s declared mission is ‘to advance the global management of physical testing parameters for apparel, footwear and related products’.

Membership of the body is said to offer brands the opportunity to collaboratively transform the industry in which they work by developing a harmonised approach for the assessment of apparel and footwear quality.

SATRA has a presence on the technical advisory committee of this body. Most of the brands which are involved in the work of AFIRM and the AFQA are active members of both of these organisations, and representatives from a number of AFQA companies recently met at SATRA’s UK head office in Kettering to discuss how to measure product quality, especially as this relates to durability.

The photograph above shows Nate Sponsler (on right of back row), who recently met with AFQA company representatives at SATRA’s UK head office.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 22 of the May 2025 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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