ArticleThe environmental improvement organization grows leadership to increase solutions
SAN FRANCISCO (July 29, 2021) – Apparel Impact Institute (Aii), a leading organization for driving scalable solutions for the apparel and footwear industry, expands its leadership by welcoming two new members to its Board of Directors and announcing a new chair. Melissa Fifield, head of corporate social responsibility & sustainability at Bank of the West, and Amanda Tucker, vice president of responsible sourcing and sustainability at Target Corp., bring their expertise in finance and brand sustainability to the organization.
“As Aii evolves, we have developed an ever-clearer picture of what will be necessary to implement and report the level of scalable solutions necessary to meet the 2030 climate targets,” said Lewis Perkins, Aii president. “To scale solutions across the value chain, we need to support brands and manufacturers from finance through implementation and reporting. Amanda and Melissa’s input will play a critical role in helping Aii achieve the growth to get us there.”
Melissa Fifield is Bank of the West’s head of corporate social responsibility & sustainability, where she is responsible for leading and reporting on the bank’s sustainability actions and other CSR commitments. She is a global sustainability leader who brings 20 years of experience leading domestic and international programs across social and environmental impact areas. In addition to spending 14 years at Gap Inc. in various sustainability and environmentally focused roles, Fifield also recently served on the board of directors of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition.
“I was an early and enthusiastic advocate for the Apparel Impact Institute and am thrilled to be joining the board to help drive critical impact in the apparel industry,” said Fifield. “I’m a strong believer in collaboration to drive the systemic change necessary to battle the social and environmental challenges we face and see Aii as an important vehicle for this change.”
Amanda Tucker is Target Corp.’s new vice president of responsible sourcing and sustainability. Tucker joined Target in March 2021. She is passionate about using the power of global brands to make the world a better place and has broad experience in leadership development, corporate responsibility and sustainability. A certified professional coach, Tucker mentors and coaches students as a course facilitator for the LEAD program at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Prior to her work with Stanford, she held a variety of senior roles in sustainable manufacturing and sourcing during a 21-year career at Nike, including as the general manager for Vietnam and Italy. Tucker also worked in Switzerland for the International Labor Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, and at the U.S. Council for International Business in New York City.
“At Target, collaborating with external partners is key to our new sustainability strategy Target Forward and integral to achieving our ambitious climate goals,” said Tucker. “Aii is an innovative and visionary partner in this space and offers programs aligned with our company’s commitment to play an active role in making a notable impact on people and our planet.”
Aii is pleased that Punit Lalbhai, executive director of Arvind Ltd. and a board member since 2018, will step into the role of board chair for 2021.
About Apparel Impact Institute (Aii)
Aii identifies, funds, scales and measures proven quality solutions to accelerate positive impact in the fashion industry. Aii looks for scalable solutions and best practices that can be applied to the entire value chain. By improving upon the environmental footprint of the current industrial model the key to unlocking the future will involve new innovations of materials, manufacturing and business models. Learn more: www.apparelimpact.org
