AA1000 are a set of three free to use standards that have been developed to improve the accountability, reporting and overall sustainability performance of an...

The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) is a national trade association representing apparel, footwear and other sewn products companies, and their...

The AFIRM (the Apparel & Footwear International RSL Management Working Group) provides resources for sustainable, self-governing RSL implementation across the...

The Apparel and Footwear Quality Association (AFQA) is a new collaborative forum of apparel and footwear companies that aims to improve physical textile testing to...

The Americas Trade and Investment Act is a bi-partisan bill introduced on 6th March 2024 to promote regional trade with close US partners but also aims to boost textile...

The amfori Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) was originally set up as an initiative of the Foreign Trade Association (now Amfori) to achieve convergence in...

BMP is the Australian cotton industry’s best practise guidelines for growing cotton in harmony with the environment using an audited process with fully traceable supply chains.

The Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety was an agreement designed to make all garment factories in Bangladesh safe workplaces. The Accord agreement included...

In May 2020, the Bangladesh RMG Sustainability Council (RMC) took over all the previous functions of the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building safety which was created...

Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for the Tanning of Hides and Skins provides a review of the Best Available Technology in the Tanning Industry across...

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is a holistic approach to sustainable cotton production, which covers environmental, social and economic issues. It’s designed to...

Bilan Carbone is a methodology developed by the French Agency for Environment and Energy Control (ADEME). It is a useful tool for organisations (company, community or...

Updated in 2019, the bioRe label is operated by Swiss-based Remei Foundation, which defines the standards for bioRe Sustainable Cotton and subsequent bioRe Sustainable...

Focusing on consumer safety and the environment, the Swiss-based bluesign system examines natural resources and chemicals used in textile production, occupational health...

The Bra Miljöval standard was developed by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) and translates as ‘Good Environmental Choice’ in English. It is...

The reference documents on best available techniques (BREF) are a series of documents that reflect an information exchange in the European Union carried out according to...

A framework standard from the British Standards Agency (BSI) for implementing the principles of the circular economy within organisations.

The Water Quality Guidelines (WQG) are voluntary goals set by the non-profit business association, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR). The goal is to improve...

This bill was signed into law on 7th October 2023, and mandates that public and private companies operating in California – with annual revenues exceeding $1 billion...

Signed into law on the same day as the California Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253), this bill (SB 261) targets similar entities, applying to US-based...

The Canada Organic Regime is a food based standard, but it’s interesting from a textiles point of view because in June 2009, an ‘equivalency agreement’ was signed...

The Hot Button Ranking scheme, from environmental NGO CanopyStyle, provides an overview of the work undertaken by leading viscose producers to ensure that the raw...

The Guidelines for Environmental Sustainability Communications, from the UK-based Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) are voluntary guidelines developed for...

Established in 1989, Clean Clothes Campaign is a global network dedicated to improving working conditions and empowering workers in the global garment and sportswear industries. 

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) was enacted by the federal government of the United States of America to “establish consumer product safety...

The Content Claim Standard is a voluntary standard that can be used to trace a material through the supply chain or used as a back-up for content claims if other...

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a voluntary, international agreement between participating governments. It...

Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) is an independent standard for sustainable and traceable cotton. Through diversification, resource efficiency and innovative approaches,...

Council Directive 98/58/EC of July 1998 concerns the protection of animals kept for farming purposes and applies to the European region.

The Cradle-to-Cradle standard assesses product safety to humans and the environment, as well as product design for material reuse using a four-tier improvement system,...

The standard is based on Chinese laws, regulations and relevant international conventions, and was first launched in 2005 by the China National Textile and Apparel...

Launched in October 2022, by Better Cotton and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), the Delta Framework is a common set of environmental, social and...

Directive 94/11/EC is a legal act of the European Union concerning the labelling of materials used in footwear, including parts sold separately. The European Union has...

Directive (EU) 2024/1799, adopted on June 12, 2024, aims to promote the repair of consumer goods to enhance sustainability and reduce waste by establishing common rules...

The Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition, adopted on 20th February, 2024, is an upgrade to previous EU directives (2005/29/EC and 2011/83/EU), to...

Launched in 2016, the goal of the Downpass standard is to contribute to the ethical sourcing of down and feathers, and to help companies to firmly anchor animal welfare...

The EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) regulation is a management tool for companies and other organisations to evaluate, report and improve their environmental...

Energy Star is a joint voluntary programme of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that aims to help consumers save money...

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a verified and registered document that communicates transparent and comparable information about the life-cycle...

The Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) is a tripartite multi-stakeholder organisation that aims to protect the rights of workers in supply chains and improve labour...

Introduced at the end of 2011, this EU regulation has brought together three previous regulations – directives covering ternary fibre mixtures (73/44/EEC), binary...

This strategy was launched in October 2020 as part of the zero-pollution ambition – a key commitment of the European Green Deal.

Adopted by the European Commission in March 2020, the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) it is one of the main building blocks of the European Green...

In December 2023, European Union legislators reached a deal on the proposed Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) that will make companies liable for...

As part of the European Green Deal, since January 5th, 2023, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies and those that are publicly...

The EU Deforestation Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2023/1115) aims to reduce the impact of the European Union’s contribution to global deforestation and forest...

The Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a European Union (EU) mandatory requirement to create a digital product passport to electronically register, process and share...

First published in March 2022, and coming into force in July 2024, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), builds on the existing Ecodesign Directive...

The European Ecolabel system allows the products of manufacturers, retailers or service providers to carry the distinctive ‘Flower’ label for marketing purposes...

It is often complicated for small and medium sized businesses to completely comply with environmental legislation and have a comprehensive vision of short and long term...

In December 2019 the EU presented the European Green Deal, as it strives to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The initiative aims to transform...

In July 2023, the European Commission unveiled its proposals to introduce a mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles in all member states in...

In July 2023, the European Commission unveiled its proposals to introduce a mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for textiles in all member states in...

The EU Forced Labour Regulation is a new law that aims to prohibit products made with forced labour from being sold in or exported from the European Union market.

The EU General Product Safety Directive is a directive provided by the European Commission on the requirements and surveillance of non-food consumer products on the market.

The European Commission published a proposal for the Green Claims Directive on March 22, 2023, in a bid to stop misleading environmental messaging on consumer goods in...

The Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) is an initiative from the European Commission to help companies measure the environmental performance of any product throughout...

This regulation was developed to regulate the organic farming sector within and beyond the European Union. The use of the term ‘organic’ with the regulation...

In March 2022, the EU adopted the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles, which addresses the entire lifecycle of production, and consumption of textiles and...

The objective of the EU Directive regulatory framework on unfair commercial practices is to boost consumer confidence and make it easier for businesses, especially small...

The Waste Framework Directive sets the basic concepts and definitions related to waste management, including definitions of waste, recycling, and recovery. Preventing...

The European Union’s Thematic Strategy on Prevention and the Recycling of Waste is a long-term strategy which aims to help Europe become a recycling society that...

Established in 1999, the US-based Fair Labor Association (FLA) is a collaborative effort of socially responsible companies, universities, governments, labour rights...

When a product is ‘Fair Trade Certified’ it has demonstrated that it meets rigorous social, environmental and economic standards outlined by the initiative’s...

The Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) is a Netherlands-based NGO, which works with companies in the textile industry to improve labour conditions and examines how brands are...

Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO), also known as Fairtrade International, is a non-profit multi-stakeholder organisation which develops and reviews...

The Fairtrade Textile Standard is one component of the greater Fairtrade Textile Programme which aims to facilitate change in textile supply chains and related business...

The Fibershed Program aims to develop regional natural fibre systems that generate lasting prosperity for local economies, global climate, and the health and diversity...

The Forest Stewardship Council is an independent, non-governmental organisation established to promote the responsible management of the world’s forests using...

This French law relates to the environmental labelling of waste-generating products for sale on the French domestic market including textiles and clothing.

The Loi de Vigilance law in France was introduced in 2017 and requires large French companies to publish an annual ‘vigilance’ plan to identify environmental and...

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Green Guides provide guidance to help marketers avoid making false or misleading claims about the environmental benefits of their...

According to the FTC Recycled Content guidelines, it is deceptive to misrepresent, directly or by implication, that a product or package is made of recycled content.

The Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains came into force in Germany on January 1st, 2023, and requires that German enterprises to respect human...

The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is an international standard for processing certified organic fibres. It encompasses stringent ecological, social, and human...

The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) addresses input material verification, chain of custody, environmental principles, social requirements, and labelling for textile...

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a non-profit organisation that promotes economic sustainability and produces one of the world's most prevalent standards for...

Originally developed by outdoor brand Patagonia, the Global Traceable Down Standard focuses on compliance with local legal animal welfare regulations and aims to ensure...

The Good Cashmere Standard (GCS) addresses the production and traceability of cashmere fibres with respect to the environment, supply chain transparency, the welfare of...

This standard is awarded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to textile manufacturers who have passed certain social and...

The Higg Index, is a suite of self-assessment tools developed and owned by Cascale that assesses the manufacturing, brand and product impacts of textile and consumer...

The Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT) provides authoritative biodiversity data tools and guidance to help organisations act on biodiversity related risks...

The International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry promotes safe workplaces through independent safety inspections, training programmes,...

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) campaigns to improve rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection and strengthen...

Since the last guide was published in 2018, international testing house Intertek has retired its ‘Green Leaf’ environmental marks for consumer goods including...

ISO 14001 is a world wide standard of an environmental management system that assists various types of industry organisations to improve their overall environmental performance.

BSI (the British Standards Institute) has launched ISO 20400:2017 Sustainable procurement – guidance. Designed to assist organisations to meet their sustainability...

Published in April 2019, this ISO standard relates to the screening of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in cotton and textiles.

IVN is one of four members of the International Working Group for the Global Organic Textiles Standard (GOTS), and also supplies its own standard – the ‘Naturtextil...

LEED, whose name originates from the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, was launched in March 2000 by the US Green Building Council.

Made in Green by Oeko-Tex is a traceability label for textiles tested for harmful substances and the use of sustainable production practices and technologies...

The National Wool Declaration (NWD) enables woolgrowers to promote their animal welfare practices (i.e. mulesing status) and the Dark and Medullated Fibre Risk (DMFR) of...

The Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act, commonly known as the New York Fashion Act, is a proposed law that would apply to fashion and apparel companies...

Nirapon is a self-regulatory body that provides factory building and fire safety monitoring, oversight and reporting services in Bangladesh for its members.

The non-profit Nordic ‘Swan’ Ecolabel is a voluntary license designed to help companies make and indicate products to the consumer that are more sustainable. It is...

The Oeko-Tex Standard 100, introduced in 1992, is a global uniform testing and certification system for textile raw materials, intermediate products, and end products at...

Based on the Detox campaign launched by Greenpeace in 2011 (and mothballed in 2019), this tool aims to exclude the 13 potentially hazardous chemicals from textile...

The ‘Eco Passport’ by Oeko-Tex is an independent certification system for chemicals, colourants and auxiliaries used in the textile and leather industry. It is...

Launched in 2017, the Oeko-Tex standard for leather goods allows producers and suppliers of leather goods to have their products certified and tested for harmful substances. 

Launched in Fall 2022, Oeko-Tex Responsible Business standard is designed to help brands, retailers and traders in the textile and leather sector with due diligence compliance.

Sustainable Textile Production (STeP) is an Oeko-Tex certification system for brands, retail companies and manufacturers from the textile chain who want to communicate...

The Open Apparel Registry (OAR) is a free-to-use online platform that maps the whereabouts and performances of garment manufacturing facilities around the world. It...

The Open Supply Hub, formerly the Apparel Registry (OAR) until 2022, is a free-to-use online platform that maps consumer goods t manufacturing facilities around the...

The Organic Content Standard (OCS) is a voluntary standard for tracking and verifying the content of organically grown materials in a final product.

The production and processing of organic textiles sold on the Japanese market is regulated in the Japanese Agriculture Standard (JAS). These certified goods are...

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) provides assurances that forests are managed in line with international environmental requirements,...

Previously in the Textile Standards & Legislation Guide we featured ISO/TS 14067:2013. This has now been superseded by this later version, which was revised in late 2018.

The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) is a voluntary standard that tracks recycled raw materials through the supply chain to give credibility to recycled content claims on products.

REEL Cotton is a traceable sustainable agriculture program run by CottonConnect that promotes environmentally friendly and socially responsible cotton farming. 

The Regenagri standard supports farms and organisations transitioning to holistic farming, increasing soil health, encouraging biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas...

Developed by the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), and released in November 2023, the Regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS) aims to improve the overall resilience and...

Regenerative Organic Certified was established in 2017 by a group of farmers, business leaders, and experts in soil health, animal welfare, and social fairness...

The Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS) is an international, voluntary standard that ensures alpaca wool is responsibly sourced from farmers with high animal welfare standards.

This standard focuses on compliance with local legal animal welfare regulations and aims to ensure that the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) does not come from farms that...

Launched by Textile Exchange in March 2020, the Responsible Mohair Standard is based on the same system as the Responsible Wool Standard and monitors animal welfare...

In March 2023, a Senate Bill was introduced in the US state of California aimed at creating a ‘first of its kind’ extended producer responsibility (EPR) textile...

The Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) is a voluntary standard that addresses the welfare of sheep and the land they graze on in a bid to help sheep farmers meet consumer,...

SA8000 is a widely recognised social certification standard that ensures decent labour conditions and protects the basic human rights of employees across all industrial sectors.

The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) originally aimed to secure commitments from large companies to set science-based targets to reduce carbon emissions. In May...

SCS claims that its private Recycled Content Standard helps companies to demonstrate ‘leadership in reducing reliance on natural resources’, as well as to satisfy...

Proposed new rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an independent US government agency, aim to mandate listed companies to reveal audited information...

The Social & Labor Convergence Program provides the tools to capture accurate data about working conditions in global supply chains. This multi-stakeholder...

Superior Energy Performance  is a certification program from the U.S. Council for Energy-Efficient Manufacturing that provides industrial facilities with a roadmap for...

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) is an industry working group dedicated to a more robust environmental vision for packaging. Through member support, an informed...

The Sustainable Regenerated Cellulosics Content Standard (SRCCS) formerly known as the Sustainable Viscose Chain of Custody Standard (SVCOC), was initially created by...

The Green Mark Program was launched in 1992 by Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration as a voluntary eco-labelling program and published its latest revision in December 2013.

Essentially, this framework aims to make products placed on the EU market 'more sustainable'.  It claims that consumers, the environment and the climate will benefit...

A label of the Chargeurs Group, Nativa sets a standard for stakeholders within the merino sheep industry and supply chain to meet if they’re to demonstrate a...

The Soil Association organic standard for textiles is another label which has adopted the GOTS criteria. It has a very high degree of consumer recognition in the UK...

Approved by US Congress in December 2021, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, also known as the UFLPA, prohibits the importation of goods into the United States...

The World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), founded in 2000, is the flagship programme of UN-Water. Housed in UNESCO, WWAP monitors freshwater issues in order to...

Launched in 2015, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal set of goals, targets and indicators that UN member states will be expected to use to frame...

In May 2022, a new The Fashion Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act bill was proposed that aims to protect the wages of US garment workers...

The bi-partisan Supply Chain Resiliency Act, introduced as Bill H.R. 6571 and passed in May 2024, and now goes to the Senate. It aims to strengthen and diversify...

The United States Department of Agriculture administers the BioPreferred Program, which was created by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (FSRIA or...

The Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced standard is a multi-stakeholder initiative created by Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN), it attempts to implement a due...

The ZDHC Gateway is a powerful tool and database designed to help eliminate harmful substances from global fashion and footwear supply chains.

Launched in October 2022 by Eurofins, the ‘Zero Waste to Landfill’ certification service aims to support company-wide commitments on zero waste and reduce the amount...

ZQ is a merino wool certification that looks at animal welfare and environmental standards. It has been developed and owned by The New Zealand Merino Company Ltd. ZQ is...