The Global Reporting Initiative opened a public consultation on Tuesday for its proposed Textiles & Apparel Sector Standard, a new sustainability reporting framework designed to improve accountability in one of the world’s most environmentally and socially impactful industries.

The global consultation will run until Sept. 28, 2025, and seeks feedback from stakeholders across the sector, including manufacturers, retailers, civil society groups and investors.

Tackling Traceability Gaps in Global Supply Chains

The proposed standard targets all organizations involved in the production of textiles, clothing, footwear, and jewelry, encompassing both wholesale and retail operations.

It addresses the sector’s full value chain, from raw materials to point of sale, with the goal of enabling more comprehensive and consistent ESG disclosures.

“The textiles and apparel sector provides essential goods to millions across the globe – but with its size, complexity and fragmentation come serious risks to people and planet,” said Peter Dawkins, GRI Standards senior manager and project lead. “This new sector standard will support organizations in embedding responsible business practices throughout their operations.”

According to GRI, the sector faces widespread challenges in terms of traceability due to its fragmented and globally dispersed value chains.

These issues hinder the ability of companies to report and manage critical impacts, such as water pollution from hazardous chemicals, gender discrimination and forced labor.

Environmental and Labor Pressures

The industry is under increasing scrutiny for its environmental footprint, including greenhouse gas emissions, excessive waste, and the use of hazardous chemicals. GRI noted that more than half of all clothes and textiles are either incinerated or end up in landfills.

Social concerns are also pressing. An estimated 70 million people work in apparel production, with the majority being young women. Many are exposed to unsafe working conditions, insufficient wages, and labor rights violations, including child and forced labor.

“Sustainability in textiles and apparel is essential, given the industry’s far-reaching environmental impacts,” said Chulendra de Silva, a member of the Global Sustainability Standards Board, which oversees GRI Standards. “This standard can empower organizations to identify and report on their most significant impacts—driving a more ethical, accountable and sustainable industry.”

Stakeholder Input and Global Webinars

The new standard is being developed by a 21-member multi-stakeholder Working Group, appointed by the GSSB and representing civil society, business enterprises, labor, investment and mediating institutions.

Two free public webinars — scheduled for July 21 and Sept. 15 — will offer more information on the proposed standard and the consultation process. Registration is currently open.

GRI Sector Standards are intended to streamline sustainability reporting for companies with shared business activities, providing a consistent framework for identifying and disclosing sector-specific impacts. Reporting entities start with GRI’s Universal Standards and apply relevant Sector and Topic Standards to guide their disclosures.

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