The fashion and textiles industry is under intense scrutiny over environmental claims. EU regulation is tightening, and retailers and brands need verified data to substantiate sustainability credentials.
Sustainability claims without data are becoming a legal risk
Clothing and textiles is one of the sectors most targeted by green claims enforcement. Terms like “sustainable”, “eco-friendly”, “responsible”, “conscious” and “climate positive” have been used widely and loosely, and the EU Green Claims Directive is specifically designed to end that. From 2026, any environmental claim made in the EU must be substantiated by a methodology that conforms to ISO 14040/44 or an equivalent standard. For brands and manufacturers selling into European markets, this means LCA is no longer optional for marketing teams. It is a legal requirement for anyone making environmental claims.
Complex global supply chains, high impact upstream
The dominant environmental impacts in clothing and textiles typically occur at the fibre production and fabric manufacturing stages, often in countries with limited environmental data availability. Cotton production, dyeing and finishing, and synthetic fibre manufacturing all carry significant impact profiles. Getting these right in an LCA requires access to appropriate background datasets and sector-specific expertise. The Higg Index, Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for apparel, and BREEAM certification for retail fit-outs all create demand for credible LCA data across different parts of the supply chain.
Green Claims Directive
Any brand making environmental claims in EU markets from 2026 must substantiate those claims with verified lifecycle data. For fashion brands using terms like “sustainable collection”, “lower impact”, or “responsible materials”, LCA-based substantiation is now a compliance requirement, not a marketing choice.
Scope 3 supplier requirements
Major fashion retailers are incorporating environmental performance data into their supplier selection and compliance frameworks. Manufacturers and brands that cannot provide verified product-level data are increasingly at risk of being de-listed from sustainability-focused retail programmes.
EU DPP for textiles
The EU Digital Product Passport regulation, expected to apply to textiles from 2027, will require product-level environmental data to be made accessible throughout the supply chain. LCA provides the foundation for the environmental data fields that DPPs will require.
| Impact Category | Virgin polyester | Recycled polyester |
|---|---|---|
| Climate change (kg CO₂eq per garment) | 5.5 | 2.1 |
| Fossil resource depletion (kg oil-eq) | 3.8 | 0.9 |
| Water use (m³) | 0.07 | 0.04 |
| Microplastic release (use phase) | Similar | Similar |
Figures are illustrative and for explanatory purposes only.
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