Textile Exchange, a non profit organization that provides sustainability guidance and certifications throughout the fashion and textile supply chain, has launched a new standard for the production and primary processing of raw materials across the industry.
The aim of the new Materials Matter Standard is to help unify and standardize Textile Exchange’s existing suite of certifications which include the Organic Content Standard, Recycled Claim Standard and several marks focusing on specific materials such as wool and down.
Development of the new standard began in 2021 and it is the result of close collaboration between Textile Exchange and a designated ‘International Working Group’ comprising brands, retailers, suppliers, producers, NGOs, and technical specialists.
“The Materials Matter Standard is more than a certification; it’s a commitment to driving measurable impact at the very start of the supply system,” said Claire Bergkamp, CEO of Textile Exchange.
“By aligning expectations and outcomes across the industry, this standard accelerates progress toward climate and nature goals and ensures that sustainability becomes a shared responsibility.”
“The Materials Matter System strengthens integrity, reduces complexity, and connects best practices to real outcomes,” added Chief Standards and Strategy Officer Ashley Gill.
“By consolidating our existing standards into one system, we’re creating a clearer, more scalable pathway to systemic change across the textile and apparel industry.”
The new standard becomes effective at the end of 2026 and will be mandatory from December 31, 2027. Existing standards may still be used in the interim to ensure certified sites can make a smooth transition.
More than 90,000 sites or organizations currently hold at least one Textile Exchange certification and its roster of members includes household-names like Patagonia, Nike, H&M Group, and The North Face.
Research suggests that consumers believe sustainable clothing is better quality than traditional apparel and that high-quality products can, in and of themselves, positively contribute to sustainable consumption.
