The fashion industry is undergoing a transformative shift, with standardization in sustainability data emerging as a critical factor for meaningful progress. Experts agree that accurate, comparable, and granular-level data forms the foundation of any sustainability commitment, helping brands meet increasingly stringent ESG regulations. Without standardized data and processes, sustainability claims can fall into the realm of “greenwashing,” lacking the transparency needed to build trust with stakeholders and consumers.
“Credible and robust data needs to form the foundation of any sustainability commitment,” says Amina Razvi, executive director at the Sustainable Apparel Coalition(now Cascale).
“If organizations are promoting green credentials to customers and stakeholders, it is vital the action sitting behind these claims stands up to scrutiny. Without the metrics in place, it’s just marketing spin.”
Standardization in sustainability data capturing, including audits and certifications ensures, that organizations can measure and report their environmental and social impacts using consistent metrics across the supply chain. This is especially crucial for industries like fashion, where a multitude of certifications and auditing bodies can lead to confusion. Standardization harmonizes these different systems, making sustainability data comparable and actionable across regions and brands.
Competing standards bodies with incompatible data create a headache for fashion businesses attempting to comply with regulations. “One of the biggest challenges our industry faces is the lack of standardized data to inform insights and collective action,” says Razvi. “If we want to achieve change, we need a coordinated approach.”
For example, cotton can be certified by the GOTS, the Organic Content Standard (OCS), or the BCI. These cover raw material claims like social and environmental impact, but when it comes to siloing these certifications into specific concern areas, the lines are blurred. This makes it even more complex for businesses trying to implement Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) measures.
The challenge is establishing a common definition of sustainability as the different standards bodies are addressing sustainability from different angles, and a way for all these players to exchange information so that brands can easily consume data.
Establishing common identifiers for suppliers – such as those developed by organizations like the Open Supply Hub and GS1 – enables brands to track performance accurately, promote ethical sourcing, and facilitate the exchange of information. By creating a unified framework for assessing sustainability, companies can empower consumers to make more informed choices while advancing their own sustainability initiatives.
“Standardized tools enable effective and comparable measurement, helping business and consumers make more informed choices,” says Razvi. “Industry transformation can be achieved through collaboration with leaders, challengers, influencers and experts around the globe. Standardization helps ensure everyone is on the same page with achieving the highest standards of social and environmental performance.”
"It’s important for all organizations to be able to access clear, credible and scientifically rigorous data to support them in measuring the impact of their whole supply chain. Greater traceability across the industry will drive change, especially when it comes to empowering consumers to make more informed buying choices."
Standardization of sustainability data across certifier bodies not only improves compliance with global sustainability regulations but also drives efficiencies in the supply chain, reducing redundancies and aligning companies on shared sustainability goals. Ultimately, standardization in sustainability data is critical to the foundation of the fashion and textiles industry’s transition towards a more transparent, circular, and fair future.
The original guest post from Amina Razvi of Cascale has been edited for brevity and some outdated information was updated. For the full article and insights, download the Traceability Playbook for Fashion Supply Chains.