The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has launched a global public consultation on a new sustainability reporting standard for the textiles and apparel industry—one of the most complex and environmentally impactful sectors globally. The draft Textiles & Apparel Sector Standard is open for public feedback until 28 September 2025.
Targeted at organisations involved in the production and manufacturing of textiles, clothing, footwear, and jewellery—across both retail and wholesale—the proposed standard covers impacts throughout the supply chain up to the point of sale. It seeks to address longstanding gaps in traceability and transparency within the sector’s widely dispersed global value chains.
The lack of consistent metrics has made it difficult for organisations to manage and report on critical issues, including water pollution from hazardous chemicals, labour exploitation, gender discrimination, and excessive working hours. The new standard aims to provide globally aligned metrics to support effective reporting and meet stakeholder expectations.
Peter Dawkins, GRI Standards Senior Manager and lead on the project, said: “The textiles and apparel sector delivers essential goods to millions but brings serious risks to people and the planet. The proposed Sector Standard will support more transparent and responsible reporting practices that reflect the sector’s scale, complexity and impact.”
Chulendra de Silva, member of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB)—the body overseeing GRI Standards—emphasised the standard’s relevance: “The industry’s environmental footprint—from chemical use and emissions to resource depletion—is vast. But social impacts are just as critical, particularly for the predominantly female workforce. This Standard will provide clarity for organisations to report their most significant impacts and drive greater accountability.”
The GRI consultation invites feedback on the clarity, feasibility, and completeness of the exposure draft. To support stakeholder engagement, two global webinars will be held on 21 July (5:00pm CEST) and 15 September (10:00am CEST).
With an estimated 70 million people employed globally—many in low-wage, high-risk settings—the textiles and apparel industry faces scrutiny over forced labour, child labour, unsafe conditions, and environmental degradation. More than half of all textiles produced end up landfilled or incinerated, further underscoring the need for stronger reporting and accountability frameworks.
The draft Standard was developed by a multi-stakeholder working group of 21 experts representing civil society, business, labour, and investment institutions, appointed through GSSB’s due process protocol.
The initiative forms part of GRI’s broader Sector Standards programme, which complements its Universal and Topic Standards. It enables organisations within a common sector to identify and report on the sustainability topics most material to their operations, enhancing comparability and sector-wide accountability.
