The Global Reporting Initiative has launched a consultation for a new sustainability reporting standard addressing the urgent need for enhanced accountability in the textiles and apparel sector. This development, announced Tuesday, targets one of the world's most impactful and fragmented industries, where traceability challenges have historically hindered effective impact management.
- The consultation period for the proposed Textiles & Apparel Sector Standard runs until 28 September.
- Two free global webinars will be held at 5pm CEST on 21 July and 10:00am CEST on 15 September with registration now open.
- The standard applies to all organisations involved in textiles, clothing, footwear, or jewellery production, manufacturing, retail, and wholesale.
KEY TAKEAWAY: This consultation represents a pivotal opportunity for the textiles and apparel industry to establish globally consistent sustainability reporting that could drive more ethical and accountable practices throughout complex supply chains.
- The standard's success depends on comprehensive stakeholder input to ensure it reflects sector realities whilst addressing the most significant environmental, social, and economic impacts.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: The lack of consistent reporting metrics across complex value chains spanning multiple countries with diverse commercial and regulatory requirements has created significant barriers to identifying and managing critical impacts.
- Without standardised frameworks, organisations struggle to address excessive working hours, gender discrimination, living wage deficits, harassment, and forced and child labour whilst meeting stakeholder expectations for transparency.
THE TRIGGER: The initiative responds to mounting pressure from the industry's severe environmental and social impacts, including the alarming statistic that over half of all clothes and textiles are incinerated or landfilled. The sector provides essential goods to millions globally but faces serious risks to people and planet due to its size, complexity, and fragmentation.
CONTEXT FRAME: The textiles and apparel sector employs an estimated 70 million people, the majority of whom are young women, making it one of the world's most labour-intensive industries.
- Environmental consequences include substantial greenhouse gas emissions, excessive water and energy consumption, chemical use, and waste generation, whilst retailers play critical roles in fostering respectful partnerships and ensuring fair pricing.
VOICES ON RECORD: Peter Dawkins, GRI Standards Senior Manager and project lead, emphasised the sector's challenges: "By enhancing accountability and transparency for their environmental, social and economic impacts, the new Sector Standard will aim to help organisations embed responsible business practices throughout their operations."
- Chulendra de Silva, Global Sustainability Standards Board member, highlighted dual impact concerns: "The GSSB believes that a new GRI Sector Standard can empower organisations to identify their most significant impacts and report on them with clarity and transparency."
DATA SNAPSHOT: A multi-stakeholder Working Group of 21 experts representing civil society, business enterprises, and mediating, labour, and investment institutions has led the development process under Global Sustainability Standards Board protocols.
