#Sustainability

2023-11-16

Clarification related to GOTS as a ZDHC MRSL approved standard

Effective 1st November, 2023, the transition phase from ZDHC MRSL V2.0 has concluded.

Effective 1st November, 2023, the transition phase from ZDHC MRSL V2.0 / ZDHC Conformance Guidance V1.1 to the newly implemented ZDHC MRSL V3.1 / ZDHC Conformance Guidance V2.0 has concluded. From this date forward, only products compliant with the new ZDHC MRSL V3.1 and the corresponding ZDHC Conformance Guidance V2.0 are eligible for upload onto the ZDHC Gateway.

It is important to note that GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) is currently not among the approved standards for demonstrating compliance with the ZDHC MRSL V3.1. Certification Bodies utilising GOTS standards are welcome to independently seek approval as a ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier. Once approved by ZDHC, they can then make use of their GOTS standard approach to certify products according to the ZDHC MRSL V3.1 / ZDHC Conformance Guidance V2.0.

ZDHC encourages people affected by this to contact their GOTS Certification Body about this development and invite them to connect with them at ZDHC via their Customer Support Team (support@zdhc.org) for further information and guidance on how they can apply to become a ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifier.

ZDHC also would like to remind that the status of ZDHC Approved MRSL Certifiers approval is always updated on their website at the following link:

https://downloads.roadmaptozero.com/input/MRSL-certifiers

Global Standards announce launch of a new textile processing standard

The 14th September 2026 marks the public launch of the Global Responsible Textile Standard (GRTS), a new standard for the processing of textiles made from fibres certified to third-party standards recognised by GRTS and covering a broad range of plant, animal, synthetic, man-made cellulosic and recycled fibres.

180 years of TESTEX: From Zurich silk testing to global certification

For 180 years, TESTEX has developed alongside the textile industry while maintaining the same underlying purpose: creating trust through independent and reliable measurement. Founded in Zurich in 1846 as the Zurich Silk Conditioning Institute, TESTEX has grown from a local institution serving the silk trade into an international Swiss testing and certification institute for textiles and leather.

Cascale launches member-led process to shape 2030 strategy

Cascale has launched a member-led process to define the industry alliance’s strategic direction for the next decade. At the Cascale Annual Meeting 2026 in Athens, CEO Ying McGuire announced that members will contribute to an industry system map that will inform Cascale’s 10-year vision, its 2030 strategy and priorities for 2027. The new strategy is scheduled to be finalized in December.

Jeanologia Sustainability Report highlights environmental impact of textile technologies

Jeanologia has published its Sustainability Report 2025, reporting a 13.64% reduction in its own carbon footprint and quantifying the environmental impact associated with the use of its technologies across the global textile industry. According to the company’s calculations, their use avoided the pollution of 21.52 million m³ of water and emissions of approximately 103,530 tonnes of CO₂ compared with conventional textile finishing processes.

ALLIED expands down traceability with lot-level carbon footprint data

ALLIED Feather + Down has expanded its TrackMyDown traceability platform to include validated cradle-to-gate carbon footprint data linked to individual down lots. The initiative is designed to provide brands and consumers with more detailed environmental information on the materials used in finished products and could also support future data requirements associated with Digital Product Passports.

Moving Advanced Recycling from Innovation to Implementation

The Advanced Recycling Conference 2026 explores technologies, markets, financing and scale-up of innovative recycling solutions for waste streams including mixed plastic waste, textiles and PVC. Europe’s chemical and materials sector faces growing pressure to close carbon loops, strengthen raw-material safety and resilience and meet increasingly ambitious EU recycling targets. Against this backdrop, the Advanced Recycling Conference (ARC) will bring together industry leaders, technology providers, researchers, innovators and policy-makers on 17–18 November 2026 in Cologne, Germany.

German textile industry and retailers form alliance to shape textile EPR system

Germany’s textile and fashion industry and retail sector have joined forces to establish the “Alliance for Textile Circularity” (Allianz für textile Kreisläufe). Initiated by the German Textile and Fashion Industry Association (Gesamtverband textil+mode) and the German Retail Federation (HDE), the alliance aims to contribute industry expertise to the development of Germany’s future Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system for textiles and footwear.

PERFORMANCE DAYS introduces Digital Design Journey with CLO and VIZOO

PERFORMANCE DAYS will introduce a new Digital Design Journey at its upcoming edition in Munich, connecting physical fabric sourcing with 3D product development. Supported by CLO and VIZOO, the installation will demonstrate how real performance fabrics can be digitized and incorporated into virtual garment development workflows.