We have identified key areas of work, including Human Rights and Livelihoods in relation to due diligence, to align with legislation currently in development, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).  

We are currently monitoring the development of legislation that is in an earlier stage, such as the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) delegated acts for textiles.  

We have also taken ESPR into account in key areas of work, such as the updates we have made to the Reclaimed Materials Declaration Form (RMDF), which now more clearly supports the feedstock eligibility requirements for reclaimed materials.  

As part of the strategy for the standards system alignment with legislation, Textile Exchange is developing a prioritization framework to determine which legislation will be prioritized for alignment first. Determination of the exact timeline and the external communication is currently being defined.  

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• This threshold applies only to final products or components.   

• It applies to consumer-facing claims only, it does not apply to unfinished products in B2B transactions or transaction certificate eligibility.   

• The 30% threshold is a combined requirement that can be achieved through a blend of multiple Materials Matter certified materials.  

Examples: 

• Product containing 50% certified recycled polyester and 50% cotton. 

• Component containing 100% certified wool. 

• Product containing 5% certified recycled nylon and 25% certified alpaca. 

After careful and intentional data and feedback gathering, we have confirmed the 30% labeling threshold is both largely achievable while meeting a higher standard to drive impact and maintain credibility. The majority of certified materials in our system can achieve the 30% minimum as a single material on their own.  

Materials that cannot achieve the 30% threshold on their own can be blended with other certified materials to achieve the minimum threshold for labeling. 

Recycled MMCFs and recycled cotton are the two exceptions to the 30% threshold and will adopt a lower, time-bound, labeling threshold of 20%. There are current technical limitations to achieving a 30% labeling threshold for these materials.  Setting a threshold of 20% for these materials now still sets a high ambition level and ensures that at least 20% of the materials in the product support the goals of the Materials Matter Standard to move the industry toward more uptake of certified materials. 

We intend to raise the labeling threshold for these materials to 30% to align it with all materials in scope of the Materials Matter Standard in line with industry progress on the technical limitations. 

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2026 will be dedicated to preparation, with a particular priority placed on preparing certification bodies (CBs) so they are fully equipped to begin auditing against the new system in 2027. CBs will receive targeted training to ensure consistency and confidence in how the standard is applied across different materials and geographies.  

At the same time, other stakeholders, including producers, suppliers, and brands, will have opportunities to align internal systems, adapt processes, and begin capacity-building activities. Engagement throughout this phase will emphasize practice, peer exchange, and readiness-building so that by the end of 2026, certification bodies and stakeholders are positioned to move into optional implementation. 

From 2028 onward, the Materials Matter Standard is required for all Tier 4 audits to maintain certification. This shift establishes a clear and consistent standard of practice for raw material production and primary processing across the certified community. 

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Textile Exchange began developing the new framework in 2021 with a clear goal: to align the ambition, rigor, and expected results across its material-specific standards and transition the industry into a more coherent, science-aligned way to measure and verify impact. 

Since then, the organization has worked closely with stakeholders from across the supply system to design and test a framework that is both robust and workable in real-world production systems. 

Built on a combination of practice-based and outcome-based expectations, the standard includes comprehensive criteria for land management, animal welfare, human rights and livelihoods, and primary processing, which covers water, chemical, and energy use, as well as waste and emissions management. Its purpose is to provide a common language and shared direction for the industry, while recognizing the unique contexts of different material producers, processors, and the communities and landscapes they depend on.  

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Since then, the organization has worked closely with stakeholders from across the supply system to design and test a framework that is both robust and workable in real-world production systems. Built on a combination of practice-based and outcome-based expectations, the standard includes comprehensive criteria for land management, animal welfare, human rights and livelihoods, and primary processing, which covers water, chemical, and energy use, as well as waste and emissions management.  

The criteria were developed over five years in close collaboration with a designated International Working Group made up of brands, retailers, suppliers, producers, NGOs, and technical specialists. Two publicly consulted drafts and a pilot version, tested in key material production regions from Peru to Italy, have helped refine the framework, alongside extensive work to ensure alignment with the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for Sustainability Systems. These practices ensure that all of our standards, including the Materials Matter Standard, provide value, rigor, accessibility, inclusiveness, and transparency 

Stakeholder input included public consultation, pilots, and workshops, and feedback from subject matter experts in environmental science, chemical management, animal welfare, and human rights and livelihoods. Rather than relying on a one-time consultation, the process emphasized ongoing feedback loops, ground-level testing, and a cross-sectional view of industry realities to inform refinement. This interactive approach has enabled the standard to evolve based on stakeholder expertise, emerging practices, and pilot feedback—ensuring it remains relevant and practical for today’s supply chain context. Learnings from these activities informed refinements to the criteria and related policies, with the Materials Matter Standard published on December 12, 2025. 

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The transition plan has been designed to keep stakeholders informed and ensure the transition is manageable. Rather than introducing all changes at once, the system elements will be introduced in phases, broken down into key components—the standard, assurance (auditing and verification), claims and labeling, and traceability tools. At each phase, stakeholders will receive updates, test how new requirements apply to their operations, and adapt their management systems accordingly. This phased approach helps ensure that stakeholders not only understand each change but also have the time and resources to implement it effectively before the next element is introduced. 

We invite stakeholders to engage through the Hub community. Signing up for this community will subscribe you to our Standards Newsletter, provide opportunities to participate in advisory groups, and join targeted outreach efforts to stay informed and ready to adapt. 

To explore the transition roadmaps for brands and retailers, recyclers, and farmers, please do so here.  

The post What should organizations do to prepare their supply chains for this change? appeared first on Textile Exchange.

• Materials in the Responsible Animal Fiber framework (wool, alpaca, mohair) 

• Recycled materials covered in the Global Recycled Standard and Recycled Claim Standard 

Organic cotton, which has long been an integral part of Textile Exchange’s standards system, will continue to play a central role through a gradual transition pathway for the Organic Content Standard into the Materials Matter System. This pathway will preserve essential functions such as traceability while strengthening the system to enable more holistic, farmer-centered outcomes. 

Looking ahead, Textile Exchange intends to expand the system through partnerships with credible programs that align with their shared vision for climate and nature impact. This includes exploring pathways for fibers such as cotton produced through preferred production systems and man-made cellulosic fibers.  

By collaborating with established partners and bringing efforts together under one framework, Textile Exchange aims to reduce duplication, ease the burden on suppliers, and enable brands to more easily source materials that deliver measurable benefits on the ground. This partnership-driven approach is designed to broaden opportunity and impact across the industry while accelerating progress for climate, nature, people, and animals. 

Down  
Down will not be included in the first version of the Materials Matter Standard. Piloting and consultation in 2024 identified key challenges in aligning the Responsible Down Standard and the Materials Matter Standard, namely the introduction of new criteria and the accompanying need for robust engagement to support the transition at Tier 4. We are taking additional time to identify how to resolve these challenges. 

 
Brands and producers can continue using the Responsible Down Standard and making claims according to the Standards Claims Policy.     

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