Standards FAQs

Standards FAQs is intended to support Standards Stakeholders by providing a centralized place that ensures easy navigation through the most frequently asked questions. 

Please note that Textile Exchange have brought together the most commonly asked questions on our public website. Access to all questions is available through the FAQs of Textile Exchange's website. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us directly through standards@textileexchange.org, and we’ll be happy to answer it for you. 

This page categorizes questions across eight different topics as displayed below. 

Certification to Our Standards  ↓

Standard-Specific Questions ↓

Claims and Labeling  ↓

Traceability Tools & Chain of Custody  ↓

Transaction Certificates (TCs)  ↓

Scope Certificates (SCs)  ↓

Materials Matter Standard Pilot  ↓

Textile Exchange ID (TE-ID)  ↓






Certification to Our Standards | Top 

Q: Do you have a list of companies that are certified to the Textile Exchange Standards?
A: Please access Find a Certified Company, where you can find the list of all companies who have adhered to our Standards. You can filter by standard, location, process category, and more.  
Q: How much does certification cost?
A: The cost of certification will vary depending on many different factors including standard, number of sites, location, complexity of facilities, time needed to audit, and more.  Furthermore, Certification Bodies (CBs) set their own price, so it is best to inquire with a few different ones before applying for certification through them. A list of certification bodies can be found here. 
Q: What is the process for becoming certified to one of your standards?  
A: The  general steps for getting certified are listed below. You can find more details about the process on our website here.  

  1. Familiarize yourself with the standard(s) 
  2. Select an approved Certification Body- the CB will be your point of contact throughout the entire certification process. The certification bodies also control the costs of certification, and we recommend reaching out to multiple to find a quote that works best for you. The cost can depend on many factors including the standard, number of sites, location, complexity of facilities, time needed to audit, and more.  
  3. Send application  
  4. Schedule audit   
  5. On-site audit   
  6. Follow-up (if needed)   
  7. Receive Certification Decision 
Q: Can organizations get certified to multiple standards at the same time?  
A: Yes, multiple scopes can be included in one audit provided that the Certification Body (CB) are accredited to audit for the specific standard(s).
Q: How does brand certification differ from supply chain certification? 
A: Both brands and supply chain members are audited against the same basic principles of the CCS. How this is applied on-site will vary depending on the business model of each business. The certification body will review each site carefully and scope the audit appropriately. Please note that the CCS3.0 has included various measures to make brand certification more attainable like remote audit potential, no on-site DC audits, and no transaction certificate required for outgoing orders to retailers. 
Q: Who in the supply chain needs to be certified under CCS and who under the Standard? 
A: All sites from the farmers/input to the brand will need to be certified to be able to make product-related standards claims. The input level site will be audited to the specific standard’s requirements, and all subsequent sites will be audited to the requirements of the Content Claim Standard with a scope of the specific standard on their certificate that indicates they are eligible to handle certified materials.   
Q: Should my brand become certified (to any standard)? 
A: This depends on whether you want to make any product-specific claims (labeling, product webpage, etc.) about your use of a standard. Certified brands are solely responsible for creating and obtaining approvals for any product-specific claims. However, brands can document purchase of certified material via transaction certificates without brand certification.

 

Standard-Specific Questions | Top 

Q: What is the differences between the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS)?
A: The Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) both verify and track recycled materials that meet the ISO definition of recycled through the supply chain. The RCS is intended for use with any product that contains at least 5% recycled material. You can find the RCS requirements here. The GRS is a more stringent standard and is intended for use with any product that contains at least 20% recycled material (50% threshold required to be eligible for GRS product-claims) and includes additional social, chemical, and environmental requirements. You can find the GRS requirements here.  
Q: Can GRS input be used for the RCS?
A: Because the GRS is a more stringent standard than the RCS, the GRS can be used as an RCS input but not the other way around. The GRS-certified suppliers would need to request an RCS SC and TC from their certification body, which may require an additional audit, so they can issue an outgoing RCS TC and finished good claims on the RCS can be made.  
Q: What is the correct minimum recycled content for GRS?
A: The GRS requires a 20% recycled input threshold for certification and to use as a business-to-business tool. However, to label or make claims on a consumer facing level (hangtags, website claims, sewn-in labels, etc.), a 50% recycled input threshold is required. You can read more on these requirements under A3- Principles of the GRS in the GRS Implementation Manual and B3.1- Eligibility Requirements of our Standards Claims Policy. 
Q: Are biomaterials accepted as input materials in the GRS & RCS?
A: Unfortunately, this material does not qualify for GRS, as it is a biomaterial. We currently do not have a biosynthetic certification but biomaterials are proposed in the unified standard by way of recognition. Since we have not finalized that policy yet, we cannot advise if your product would qualify. 

We are going to have more information available regarding recognition for biomaterials as part of the unified standard during the first half of 2024. Meanwhile, we invite you to review further info on the unified standard up to date.  

We suggest reviewing Textile Exchange Guide to Recycled Inputs  document and to apply for qualification with a certification body.   
Q: Can I have a mixed OCS and GOTS supply chain?  
A: Yes, GOTS inputs can be used at OCS sites to produce OCS outputs.   

The GOTS facility will issue a GOTS TC to your OCS facility and you will need to provide traceability information about the GOTS product in order to issue an outgoing OCS TC. 

We have more info about this in the ASR-106 Equivalency policy. B2.2.2 outlines what is needed from the GOTS site providing OCS input. 


Claims & Labeling | Top 

Q: What are the requirements to make a claim about our products?  
A: All Textile Exchange standards use a chain of custody model. For a product to be labeled as certified and for certified material to be passed along, it must come from an unbroken chain of custody. This means that every site in the supply chain that owns or takes physical possession of claimed material, from the raw material level through to the final brand, must be certified. The product must meet the minimum content percentages for each standard in order to be eligible for a product-specific claim, as outlined in section B3.1 in the Standards Claim Policy. 
 
Certified brands are solely responsible for creating and obtaining approvals for any on-product claims, such as hangtags or labels. All claims must be approved by your certification body, as they are the only entity authorized to approve standards claims and provide the standards logo. 
Q: Can someone from Textile Exchange approve my standard claim or artwork?  
A: No, only certification bodies are authorized to approve your use of a Textile Exchange standard logo and product-related claim. They have in-depth knowledge of our Standards Claims Policy and Standards Logo Use Specifications, which they use to approve your company’s logo use or claim, as well as verify the certification of your product.
Q: Can you send me a standard logo?  
A: Standard logos must be obtained through a certification body as they are responsible for the claim approval process. Textile Exchange only distributes standard logos to certification bodies approved to provide certification services and does not supply copies of the logo to organizations directly. Textile Exchange will only issue logos for specific uses by media or other partners who wish to promote Textile Exchange Standards.
Q: Can I make a claim about a specific component which is certified?  
A: We allow for component claims where you can claim a certain component of a product instead of the entire product. The component must meet the minimum certified material input requirements (e.g., 5% for RWS and 50% for the GRS) to label. The minimum content percentages are based on the overall weight of certified components in the product, excluding trims or accessories unless they are also certified.

We define a component as a uniquely identifiable material that is included or intended to be included as a part of a finished product. In the case of RAF and RDS, we only allow component claims if those are mixed with GRS/RCS of the same material. Components can be easily identified by consumers on the finished product. You can find more on this in B3.1 of our  Standards Claims Policy. .
Q: Is it allowed to make a claim in other languages?  
A: Translating an assured claim is allowed. However, certification bodies are responsible for approving the claim and must be knowledgeable in the language to approve the translation. Informational statements and commitment claims can be translated if the meaning of the message is not lost.
Q: I have partial chain of custody and my product does not qualify for labeling. How can I communicate about the standards and the efforts we are making?  

If you do not have full chain of custody and cannot make a product-related claim, you may still choose to make claims from the three other claims categories described in the Standards Claims Policy: 
 
General Marketing - Corporate Commitment/Progress Claims 
 
If you register your commitment to one or more of our standards, you may make claims talking about your commitment or the progress you've made working towards it. Commitments are registered through Textile Exchange’s online commitment registration form. Once the form is received, we will respond to the email entered if there are any questions, or confirm that the commitment has been reviewed, and the claim is permitted. Following completion of the registration form, Textile Exchange will share the standard logo.  
 
Agreement-Based Claims 
 
Textile Exchange can grant permission for additional standards-related claims within the context of written agreements. For example, this may involve members in one of our standards International Working Group (IWG) or brands who have financially supported a standards-related initiative. 
 
Informational Statements   
 
Informational statements are ready-to-use messages that explain a standard and its purpose, without referencing a product or organization. These statements can be used by any organization, no approval or registration is needed to make an informational statement. The GRS logo will be shared by Textile Exchange. 
 

More information on the different claim categories can be found in section A (Commitment Claims), section C (Agreement-Based Claims) and section D (Informational Statements) of our Standards Claim Policy. 

 
Q: I have received certified materials from my supplier, can I label my product with a standard logo?  
A: All Textile Exchange standards use a chain of custody model. In order for a product to be labeled as certified, it must come from an unbroken chain of custody. This means that every site in the supply chain that owns or takes physical possession of the claimed material, from the raw material level through to the final brand, must be certified. Certified brands are solely responsible for creating and obtaining approvals for any on-product product-related claims, such as hangtags or labels. Please also note that all requests for logo use and subsequent approval of artwork must go through your certification body.  
Q: My product does not qualify for labeling, can I still make a claim using language such as “contains organic XXX” or “contains recycled XXX”?
A: We recommend having a strong verification in place for any claim made on a product. You should also be sure to check the labeling laws in the country of sale. Textile Exchange Standards are voluntary; companies are not required to label with the standards, and we do not place restrictions on labeling language not used in association with our standards.
Q: Are retailers allowed to make standards claims?
A: Retailers are not required to be certified unless they are selling their own private label products which they control the design and development of, in which case they are considered a “brand”. Certified brands are solely responsible for creating and obtaining approvals for any on-product product-related claims, such as hangtags or labels. Retailers cannot create new on-product product related claims for these products. 
 
However, retailers are permitted to make off-product claims, such as those on e-commerce product page or in-store signage, if they have purchased certified products produced from a certified brand holding a valid scope certificate, either directly from the brand or via a trader. It is the retailer's responsibility to ensure that the products they claim are certified to the relevant standard. 

All off-product claims must meet the requirements in sections B3.4 to B4.7 of the Standards Claims Policy, as well as comply with the Standards Logo Use Specifications. Textile Exchange will share the standard logo(s). 
 
Detailed information and best practices for verification of certified products can be found in the Retailer Claims Guidance.
Q: Can I make claims on our packaging?  
A: Product-related claims made on and about packaging are allowed if the packaging itself is certified to the relevant standard (e.g. a GRS certified recycled polyester polybag). For packaging, the manufacturer is typically considered the “brand”, as they control the design and production of their product. Therefore, they are required to be certified and are responsible for getting the claim approved, applied, and contain their license/TE-ID number, rather than the company who is using the certified packaging for their products. 
 
Further guidance on claims regarding packaging can be found in section B3.16 in the Standards Claims Policy. We also issued calibration 233  that clearly defines when packaging companies are considered brands and so their license number should be used on the package itself. The poly bag 'brand' in this case is the end of the chain of custody, so the bag can be distributed for use with other manufactures and retail stores without needing further certification on behalf of that bag. 
Q: We have excess hangtags with a standard claim, are these allowed to be used?
A: In situations where an organization chooses not to renew their certification for a specific standard or if the information on the hangtags/labels are outdated, any remaining hangtags or labels that were printed with the previous certification information can still be used on the eligible products and used up until they are all gone. 

However, it's crucial to ensure that these hangtags or labels are attached only to the products that were produced during the period when your brand held a valid scope certificate and have been accompanied by a transaction certificate (TC). If the hangtags or labels are used on products produced outside of the valid certification period and are not accompanied by a TC, the chain of custody is not fulfilled, and the claim would not be conforming with our policies and procedures for certification and claims/labeling.

  


Traceability Tools & Chain of Custody | Top 

Q: How is chain of custody maintained in the standards system?
A: Textile Exchange uses a chain of custody system, whereas all points in the supply chain up until the brand must be certified in order to continue referring to the material or products as certified. Our system employs certificates to track and verify the claimed material. Scope certificates (SCs) verify a company is qualified to produce certified products, whereas transaction certificates (TCs) verify that specific products are certified to a given standard. Both the SC’s and TC’s work together and are needed to verify the full chain of custody.  

This means that if a supplier is certified and has an SC, they are authorized to process and sell certified material to the specific standard. However, this does not necessarily mean all the products they sell are certified. As mentioned above, TCs are used to verify a product is made from certified material by a certified organization.  

Q: What is the difference between dTrackit and eTrackit? 
A: Both dTrackit and eTrackit offer traceability of third-party verified transactions of certified material across the supply chain. The difference is dTrackit relies on transaction certificates (TCs), while eTrackit tracks the volume of certified material for each product (rather than the entire transaction) online via eTransaction.  
 
TCs, as used in dTrackit, are an established approach. So, it is business as usual for certified organizations using our standards. They are the representation of a shipment of products between a seller and buyer that a certification body has verified. No change is required for the certified organization, and traceability is offered as a value-add. As a certificate-based solution, TCs are flexible and cater to the dynamic and fragmented nature of the textile supply chain where there are frequent changes to business rules and suppliers, and marginal suppliers are at play. 

eTransactions, as used in eTrackit, shows real-time digital inventory as it is entered, and ensures peer-to-peer validation within a closed-loop supply chain, requiring whole supply chains to transition to a new way of working on a single platform. Business rules are built in for automation efficiency best suited to stable and established supply chains moving large volumes. 
 
A brand should choose a method of transaction verification that best suits its supply chains. An important note in making this decision is that currently, dTrackit and eTrackit are standalone, meaning certified materials that are verified in one method cannot be used as inputs to the other.
Q: Is eTrackit the same as TextileGenesis?
A: TextileGenesis is a shared services platform that we currently contract to operate the eTrackit program. As a brand, you may choose to onboard your supply chain using TextileGenesis to trace your materials, but these transactions and materials are completely independent of our certification. 

To use eTrackit on TextileGenesis, you must be a certified organization with a valid scope certificate, conform to the eTransaction process, which is subject to certification body verification, as required by our standards. 

Q: What is the difference between Transaction Certificates (TCs) and eTransactions? 
A: Transaction certificates (TCs) and eTransactions are records issued by a certification body that verifies products sold or shipped from one organization to another conform to our standard and may be treated as claimed materials by the receiver. They contain information about the same seller, buyer, shipments, products, and certified material volume of the products. 


TCs are generated from a certification body’s system, reported to dTrackit, and issued as paper-based copies, passed from party to party along the supply chain (see sample here).  A TC must always be authenticated against the certification body’s system or dTrackit.  


An eTransaction is generated and passed from party to party within eTrackit, a common system access shared by certification bodies for verification. Since all parties exist within eTrackit, certified volume is transferred, verified by a certification body, and peer-to-peer validated in a closed-loop system. While an eTransaction receipt may be issued as paper-based copies from eTrackit (see sample here), an eTransaction must always be authenticated against eTrackit as the source of truth.   

Q: Will Transaction Certificates (TCs) be phased out by eTransactions? 
A: There are currently no plans to phase out transaction certificates (TCs). There are use cases for both TCs and eTransactions. 

TCs are an established approach, so it is business as usual for certified organizations using Textile Exchange standards. No change is required, and traceability is offered as a value-add. As a certificate-based solution, TCs are flexible and cater to the dynamic and fragmented nature of the textile supply chain where there are frequent changes to business rules and suppliers, and marginal suppliers are at play. eTransactions are the next evolution of this existing model, but we recognize that there may always be the need for a more traditional supply chain approach.  

eTrackit tracks the volume of certified material for each product (rather than the entire transaction) online via eTransactions, shows real-time digital inventory as it is entered, and ensures peer-to-peer validation within a closed-loop supply chain. As a solution managed in one system, it requires entire supply chains (i.e. raw material source through the brand) to transition to a new way of working on a single platform. Business rules are built in for automation efficiency best suited to stable and established supply chains moving large volumes. Transaction certificates thus cater to those supply chains not ready or possible to completely engage at this level but will not have the efficiency and product-level data that eTransactions

provide.    


A certified organization should choose a transaction verification that best suits its supply chain. Alternatively, it may opt to use both. An important note in making this decision is that currently, dTrackit and eTrackit are standalone, meaning certified materials that are verified in one mechanism cannot be mixed with the other.

Q: Are eTransactions subject to the same requirements as Transaction Certificates? 
A: Transaction certificates and eTransactions are both based on the same criteria set out by our chain of custody, the Content Claim Standard. While they operate on different systems, both require the same set of documentation such as shipping documents, purchase orders, etc, to evidence the physical material flow. 
Q: Who can use Trackit? 
A:  dTrackit: Certification bodies accredited to our standards must transfer all scope and transaction certificate data from their systems to dTrackit. Access to information in dTrackit is based on roles, there are 5 roles: public, brand, supplier, producer, and certification body. Public access to selected information was released in November 2022. Selected brands were given access to dTrackit brand portal as part of the beta release in early 2023. A wide release for brands is expected in the coming months. With the wide release, certification bodies will also get access, with suppliers and producers getting access in 2024. 

eTrackit: Certification bodies accredited to our standards began onboarding eTrackit starting in June 2023. eTrackit for the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is now available for certified suppliers and brands to use. The rollout for the Responsible Animal Fiber Standards (RAF) and the Organic Content Standard (OCS) is scheduled after the pilot completion in 2024. 

Q: Is the use of Trackit mandatory for certification bodies? 
A: dTrackit: Yes. All certification bodies accredited to our standards must use dTrackit to transfer certification data from their system to dTrackit. Additionally, dTrackit holds all scope certificates regardless of whether the transaction is carried out in dTracit or eTrackit.  

eTrackit: No. While all certification bodies accredited to our standards will be onboarded to eTrackit, whether a certification body offers the use of eTransaction will be up to market demand. However, registration is required. 

Q: Is the use of Trackit mandatory for certified companies? 
A:  As a certified company, the scope certificate data which you submit to certification body will be reported to Trackit. For transactions, there are two options: 

  • dTrackit: If you choose to continue using transaction certificates, then the transaction certificate data that you submit to certification body, will be reported to dTrackit. There is no need to directly interact with dTrackit.  
  • eTrackit: Alternatively, you may opt to upload your scope certificates, register sites, and carry out eTransactions in eTrackit. Commercial use of eTrackit for Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is now live and is expected to be available for the Responsible Animal Fiber Standards (RAF) and the Organic Content Standard (OCS) in 2024 after the pilot completion. 

Responsible Down Standard (RDS) is the next expected standard to be piloted for eTrackit in 2024.

It is important to note that any inputs purchased in transaction certificates must be sold using transaction certificates, and any inputs purchased in eTransactions must be sold using eTransactions. Input from one model cannot be used as input for the other.  

Q: Do suppliers and brands need to be audited and certified to use Trackit? 
A: Yes, suppliers and brands must be certified to Textile Exchange standards to use dTrackit and/or eTrackit. Certification ensures that companies are part of the chain of custody and can access the information of the certified chain. 
Q: How do certified companies sign-up and access Trackit? 
A: dTrackit: Upon accreditation, certification bodies will be contacted to onboard dTrackit. Selected brands have been given access to the beta release. Certified brands interested in using dTrackit can register here. Registered brands will be contacted when the general release is available. 

eTrackit: Brands interested in eTrackit for RCS and GRS can register to have their supply chain diagnosed by Textile Exchange and receive a report on eligibility of their certified supply chains. As part of the onboarding process, TextileGenesis will work with the brands to onboard certified suppliers in their supply chain.   

The onboarding process will consist of webinars, training, access to guidance resources, virtual office hours, and online support.  
Q: What information can brands access in Trackit? 
A: dTrackit: Certified brands can view their scope certificate data, transaction certificate data, and transaction traceability in dTrackit. 

eTrackit: Certified brands can manage their eTrackit suppliers, and eTransactions and view product-level traceability in eTrackit.

Q: Can brands see their entire certified supply chain in Trackit? 
A: dTrackit: Certified brands can view the traceability of their transaction certificates in dTrackit. However, for privacy reasons, the identities of indirect suppliers are withheld. A feature to request supplier transparency is considered for later releases.  

eTrackit: Certified brands can view the traceability of their products in eTrackit. However, for privacy reasons, the identities of indirect suppliers are withheld by default. Brands can request their suppliers to tick the “Disclose Identity” box inside eTrackit. This allows brands to identify their supply chain.  When ‘Disclose Identity’ is turned on or off, it is applicable for all forward transactions only and cannot be applied to retrospective transactions.

 
Brands not certified to our standards are not a party to the certified chains and are not privy to information pertaining to certification in the shared services system, TextileGenesis.  

Q: What is the cost of using Trackit? 

A: dTrackit: dTrackit is offered as a traceability value added to current transaction certifications. There is currently no separate dTrackit fee beyond the existing transaction certification fee to certification bodies. dTrackit will be released on a role-to-role basis: brands, then certification bodies, and lastly suppliers. On its release, organizations will be given a single-user license to access the data. Additional user licenses and API will be offered at a nominal fee to cover our support cost.   


eTrackit: eTrackit is offered as an alternative traceability tool, using online eTransactions with our current solution provider, TextileGenesis. In place of transaction certificates, eTransactions are subject to fee charges by certification bodies. An additional license fee is applicable to TextileGenesis for the use of the platform.  

We reserve the right to modify our certification fee structure including on scope (site) certification, transaction certification, and eTransaction certification. 

Q: Will certification bodies increase transaction fees for the use of Trackit? 
A: Certification bodies set and charge their own fees. We have not imposed any additional fees for the use of either dTrackit or eTrackit. As with any new system implementation, transition time is needed for certification bodies. However, efficiency gain is expected over time, particularly for those using eTrackit.  

We reserve the right to modify our certification fee structure including on scope (site) certification, transaction certification, and eTransaction certification.

Q: What is the governance framework for Trackit? 
A: As the standard owner, we determine the purposes for which and the means by which the certification data is processed. Certification bodies are licensed by us to audit and carry out the certification process with certified companies.
  

For dTrackit, the data is first processed in certification bodies’ systems and then passed to our system, dTrackit. For eTrackit, the data is processed in eTrackit, a shared service system that we contracted TextileGenesis, a service provider, to operate.  As eTrackit operates on a shared service system, certified companies will need to directly contract with Textile Exchange and TextileGenesis to use eTrackit services. Both dTrackit and eTrackit data is or will be stored in our Shared Measurement System (SMS). 

As we evolve our standard systems, we will be changing our licensing model.  

 



Transaction Certificates (TC) | Top

Q: My supplier provided me with a “Transaction Certificate”. What does this mean? 
A: To ensure that a specific shipment of products received is certified to a Textile Exchange standard, a buyer can (and should) ask their certified supplier to provide a transaction certificate. This document is issued by the certification body of the supplier and lists the actual certified products and shipment details including the buyer’s name and address and declares the certification status of the shipped goods. 
Q: Can a non-certified buyer receive a Transaction Certificate (TC)? 
A: A buyer does not have to be certified to receive a transaction certificate (TC) from a certified supplier. We do not have any specific requirements for suppliers to issue TCs. However, we consider it best practice for them to do so upon request and if possible. 

When selling to a non-certified, the seller should note 'N/A' or leave it blank in the section that asks for the buyer license/TE-ID number. This indicates that the chain of custody has been broken and no claims on the product are allowed.  

Q: How long do Transaction Certificates (TCs) take to be issued from a certified supplier to the next? 
A: The certification body will issue transaction certificates (TCs) within 14 calendar days after the completion of a valid TC application. The TC application process includes documented proof of the claimed material’s sale, which can be found under D5.4 of the CCS. Following the issuance of a TC, suppliers can pass the TC to their buyers of the certified material. 
Q: Can multiple shipments be included in one Transaction Certificate (TC)? 
A: The certification body can issue one transaction certificate (TC) covering the information of multiple shipments, provided the following conditions are met: 

The seller, seller’s certification body, and buyer agree to include multiple shipments on a single TC and agree on the number of shipments and/or time period.   

  • All shipments on a single TC must be sent from the same seller at the same location.   

  • All shipments on a single TC must be sold to the same buyer.   

  • A TC cannot include more than 100 shipments and 1000 products. 

Q: Is Textile Exchange approving Transaction Certificates (TCs)?
A: Certification bodies remain fully responsible for the review and decision-making related to all transaction certificate (TC) applications and certification decisions. Textile Exchange only performs sampling and checks to identify any potential issues that may require further training or investigation and shares areas of concern with the applicable accreditation body where needed. We have created a post in the Hub community for certification bodies that they all have access to with this information. 

Textile Exchange does not approve the issuance of TCs.  

Q: Is it possible to have an extensions or exemptions on a Transaction Certificate (TC) application? 
A: Certification bodies remain fully responsible for the review and decision-making related to all transaction certificate (TC) applications and certification decisions. Textile Exchange does not approve the issuance of TCs.  

If an exemption is warranted, the CB would have to apply for an exemption based on the circumstance that the site faces if they feel there is a warranted case. Only then can Textile Exchange review the case and make a decision on if it should be granted or not.  

Q: Can Certification Bodies (CBs) issue a TC beyond 180 days?  
A: Based on ASR-104 policy, or the Policy for Transaction Certificates, we do not allow for issuance of transaction certificates by certification bodies more than180 days after shipment. The certification body could apply for an exemption, based on the circumstance that the site faces, if they feel there is a warranted case. Textile Exchange will then review and decide whether to grant an exemption, based on the reasons presented.
Q: Should I collect Transaction Certificates for each stage of the supply chain?  
A: Textile Exchange's standards use a chain of custody model, requiring every site in the supply chain that owns or takes physical possession of the claimed material, from the input level to the brand level, to be certified to the specific standard to pass along certified materials and make claims. 

Our standard system employs certificates to track and verify the claimed material. Scope certificates verify a company is qualified to produce certified products, whereas transaction certificates (TCs) verify that specific products are certified to a given standard. This document is issued by the supplier's certification body and lists the actual certified products and shipment details and declares the certification status of the shipped goods. 
 
The TC can only be issued by an organization, certified to the applicable standard, and is issued between buyers and sellers along the supply chain. The TC from your direct supplier is therefore verifying the certified materials product journey along the supply chain.   

 

Scope Certificates (SC) | Top

Q: My supplier provided me with a “Scope Certificate”. What does this mean? 
A: Companies that have demonstrated the ability to comply with the relevant standard requirements by an approved certification body will be issued a scope certificate. This certificate lists the products which can be offered certified to the standard. Before ordering certified products from a supplier, you should make sure that their certificate is still valid, and that the product you are ordering is listed on the certificate. 
Q: Do we have to include exact percentages material composition on the Scope Certificate?
A:  According to the ASR-103 policy, or the Policy for Scope Certificates  (criteria B2.2.4) it is allowed to omit exact material composition percentage on the scope certificate (SC), if this is done consistently on the SC. Many certification bodies insist on including exact percentages. However, we tend to discourage it, to avoid the need for additional products on the SC and increased costs due to variable blend percentages. Important to note, the exact percentage is required to be listed on the transaction certificate. 

 

Materials Matter Standard Pilot | Top

Q: What is the Materials Matter Standard?  

The Materials Matter Standard is a voluntary sustainability standard for the production and initial processing of raw materials used in the fashion, textile, and apparel industry.

The standard sets out to incentivize a system in which the materials in our clothing and textiles support the climate, respect human rights and animal welfare, and drive beneficial outcomes for soil health, water, and biodiversity. It aligns the industry on a shared trajectory towards this vision by establishing what best practice looks like for different materials in various settings, from farms to recycling facilities.

By focusing specifically on the start of the supply chain, the Materials Matter Standard provides a global certification model that is connected to the unique contexts of producers and processors, as well as their local communities and landscapes. A blend of practice-based criteria and outcome-based indicators helps participating organizations get acknowledged for meeting core requirements and builds their capacity to measure results. At the same time, it gives brands and retailers who choose certified materials a way to speak confidently to customers about them.

Q: What is the Pilot Version of the Materials Matter Standard?  

We are currently piloting the standard around the globe to test the criteria and gather valuable feedback. 2024 will be focused on feasibility testing, the preparation of supplementary documentation, and outreach events to raise awareness among standard users.

Learnings from these activities will be used to refine criteria and related policies for the final version of the standard which, following pilot testing and system updates, will be published in mid-2025.

You can find more information here

Q: Will the Logo be publicly available for the pilot launch?  

The logo will be launched at the Textile Exchange conference in 2024 following the piloting period. 

Q:Will the threshold for component percentage to qualify as preferred and make claims change with the transition to the Materials Matter Standard?  

We are reevaluating the minimum content thresholds for each material within scope of the Materials Matter Standard. However, more information will be presented as part of the updated version of our Logo Use and Claims Policy to align with the standard in 2024/2025.

Q:If a product has multiple components and multiple standards attributed to those respective components, how will it be quantified under the Materials Matter Standard? How will we make claims?  

We are currently in the process of developing a new claims and labeling system that will accompany the new standard and include but not be limited to updates on: 

  • Allowed claims language options and requirements  
  • Claims categories 
  • Minimum content percentages 
  • Eligibility requirements 
  • Document format and navigation 
  • Claims approval process 
  • Monitoring and misuse procedures 
  • Retailer claims 

We will provide more information on this subject as the process moves forward.
Q:Does the Materials Matter Standard cover social and labor issues?

The Human Rights and Livelihoods (HR&L) criteria included in the Materials Matter Standard will apply to facilities at the first processing stage for recycling of cotton, animal fibers, man-made synthetics and cellulosic, in addition to farm/production levels and first stage processors for animal fibers and down.

Textile Exchange aims to align the standard with globally recognized Human Rights due diligence frameworks, namely, the United Nations’ Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD’s Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector. These frameworks provide the basis for many existing standards, as well as the new and emerging due diligence laws, outlining a common direction of travel, so that organizations wishing to – or needing to – comply with numerous requirements can do so in a consistent manner.

In line with these frameworks, the new HR&L criteria go beyond labor standards and cover all relevant areas of the internationally recognized human rights while using a risk-based approach. This means that while the number of HR&L criteria increases, organizations can achieve conformance in a more tailored and meaningful way. Certified organizations will be expected to assess human rights risks in relation to their specific operational reality (country, material, processes, etc.) and then prioritize action on those risks or negative impacts which are the most severe or most likely to happen (how ‘salient’ they are). In practice, this means that organizations will not be expected to take action in all HR&L areas all at once, and that the high-risk areas and prioritized actions might look slightly different from one organization to another.    

Q: What is the relationship between the Materials Matter Standard and the unified standard?  

The Materials Matter Standard was known as the “unified standard” during its development. With the release of the Pilot V1.0, Textile Exchange is pleased to share its official name with stakeholders.

Q: What is changing from the current system to the new Materials Matter Standard system?  

What is changing for Tier 4? Our summary paper documents, linked above, have an in-depth overview of what the Materials Matter Standard Pilot Version entails for each specific fiber category. This summer, we will also be publishing a mapping document of the current standards system vs the Materials Matter Standard.

What is changing for Tiers 1 – 3? Like our current standards system, the Materials Matter Standard will be underpinned by fundamental chain of custody requirements to track certified materials with integrity. The Content Claim Standard (CCS) has not been included in the revision of the Materials Matter Standard; it has instead stayed on a separate development track to service our current standards in addition to supporting the implementation of the Materials Matter system. With that said, the CCS will be open for feedback and revision in 2024 alongside the assurance documents in our standards system.  

Today, the CCS serves as the standalone chain of custody standard, and it will continue to do so in the future. The CCS is mandatory for all supply chain participants, including brands, which take custody of certified material after the first processing stage. Conformance with the CCS continues to be necessary to sell certified products and make claims about them. Once the Materials Matter Standard is in use, it will operate with the CCS the same way as the current Textile Exchange input standards (GRS, RCS, OCS, RWS, RMS, RAS, RDS).

Our supply chain taxonomy includes first processors in tier 4, such as wool scourers, recyclers, pulp manufacturers, and gins. For first stage processors that are not already certified to the GRS, the Materials Matter Standard does create significant change in terms of including environmental and social criteria as defined in the principles for human rights & livelihoods and processing facility.

Under the Materials Matter system, brands will also need to be certified to the CCS to make use of claims and labeling as they are now.  

Q: Why is Textile Exchange moving towards a unified standards system? 

The Materials Matter Standard, previously known as the unified standard, aims to meaningfully embed the Climate+ goal into the raw material scope for all materials included in our certification. An additional objective is to harmonize systems across the full scope of our current standards and to create stronger communication at the consumer-facing level.

Textile Exchange’s current material-specific standards - including the Global Recycled Standard (GRS), Recycled Claim Standard (RCS), Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS), Responsible Alpaca Standard (RAS), and Responsible Down Standard (RDS) - were developed separately and operate uniquely in terms of structure and reach. Each standard also incorporates its unique focus areas. While standards like the RWS, RMS, and RAS all contain land management and social criteria, the RDS does not include those attributes. For this reason, the journey towards unifying Textile Exchange’s standards system has focused on exploring where it is relevant and meaningful to incorporate climate and nature impact areas across all materials in scope, addressing how the material is managed on the ground as well as in the first processing stage.

Materials certified to the Materials Matter Standard as well as future recognized standards will be tracked through the supply chain with our pre-existing chain of custody standard: the Content Claim Standard (CCS).  

Q: How will the Materials Matter Standard help us measure impact?

The Materials Matter Standard will contribute to monitoring progress on our Climate+ targets primarily through Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Indicators. These MEL indicators will serve as valuable tools for assessing and gaining insights from the adoption of best practices, as well as for measuring long-term outcomes. They will serve as a tool to inform the ongoing effectiveness and relevance of the standard over time. In the Materials Matter Standard system, there will be multiple sources of data collected that contribute to the MEL indicators. This includes indicator designations that have been added to pre-existing conformance-related and leadership criteria, as well as adaptation of the farm-level questionnaire that is collected before audits and a similar facility-level questionnaire that is being developed. The separate Regenerative Outcome Framework will also provide insight on impacts in geographic hotspots.  

Q: What is the definition of small, medium and large producer as mentioned in the Materials Matter Standard Pilot V1.0?

The Materials Matter Standard Pilot V1.0 includes a proposed definition for consultation input. Based on feedback received, we will incorporate how we look at and define the size of operations in our 2024 pilot testing. In the meantime, following is the proposed definition:

Production of Animal Derived Materials (sheep wool, mohair, alpaca, down)

  • Small producer - Farmer who is not structurally dependent on hired labor* but operated mostly by his/her family members.
  • Medium producer - N/A
  • Large producer - Farmer who is structurally dependent on hired labor*.
First Processing for All Materials
  • Small facility - Facility where there are ≤ 5 hired workers*.
  • Medium facility - Facility where there are ≤ 25 hired workers*.
  • Large facility- Facility where there are > 25 hired workers*.


*Hired labor/workers: can be full-time and part-time employees, temporary workers, and seasonal workers (excluding contractors).

Q: How is Textile Exchange approaching recognition of materials certified under another scheme? Will there be new fibers and materials in the Standard in the future

The primary goal for the Materials Matter Standard is to harmonize our existing standards into a more unified standard system to align with the Climate+ goal. Additionally, we are looking at other key fibers and materials that connect to our GHG reduction goals.

The materials proposed for the scope of the Materials Matter Standard at Tier 4 include:

  • Animal fibers and materials: Sheep wool, Mohair, Alpaca, Down, and Skins
  • Recycled: Synthetics, Natural materials, Recycled MMCF


For our other strategic raw materials, our objective is to work through partnerships with organizations managing raw material sustainability systems in order to reduce duplication in certification processes and merge efforts on shared climate and nature goals. Consequently, some of the materials proposed for inclusion within the scope of the Materials Matter Standard will be added through the recognition of external standards rather than through direct Textile Exchange raw material certification. These materials are:

  • Animal fibers and materials: Cashmere
  • Fiber crops: Cotton
  • Plant/Forest Derived: MMCF, Biosynthetics

Q: How can I learn more about the Materials Matter Standard? 

You can find information about the Materials Matter Standard process on our website here. 

Q: What are the fees associated with the new standards system?  

This will be addressed when we approach the implementation of the standard in 2024. Certification fees are set by Certification Bodies and pricing is informed by the policy that governs the standards system. These policies and accompanying documents will be drafted in 2024.

Q: Will you make translations available for the Materials Matter Standard and associated documents?  

We currently have the Animal Materials Summary Paper available in Spanish. We are making an effort to have more available documents translated to Spanish for our stakeholders. In any case, the English version of any document is always the official version. For any questions related to the accuracy of the information contained in any translation, refer to the official English version. Any discrepancies or differences created in any translation are not binding and have no effect for auditing or certification purposes. 

Q: What is the implementation timeline for these changes?  

Following the release of the first two drafts, Textile Exchange published the Pilot Version 1.0 of the Materials Matter Standard on June 4, 2024. This version of the standard will be used for pilot testing feasibility of the criteria in the field. We will conduct full internal systems update to align with the new standard and update pre-existing documents to reflect the harmonized system. This will also provide the necessary implementation planning time for all stakeholders before the effective version of the standard is released.

Following pilot testing and system updates taking place this year, the final standard will be published during 2025. The final standard will state both an effective date and a mandatory date. The effective date is planned for Q1 2026 and means that auditing and certification may begin on a voluntary basis when requested from approved certification bodies. The mandatory date will be no sooner than 12-months following the final standard publication date according to our standard setting procedure. The mandatory date is expected mid-2026 and means that all applicable audits from that date onwards are required to be to the new standard. Existing standards superseded by the Materials Matter Standard will be retired on a transition timeline.

 
What are the differences between the published, effective and mandatory dates? The Pilot Version 1.0 of the Materials Matter Standard was released on June 4th, 2024, to be used for pilot testing feasibility of the criteria on the field.

  • We will conduct full internal systems updates to align with the new standard, as well as provide the necessary implementation planning for all stakeholders in the system (e.g., taking adequate time to align across our assurance system, the accreditation and certification bodies’ systems, and for sites to prepare their operations to get certified).
  • We will also update pre-existing documents to reflect the harmonized standards system.

The final standard is scheduled to be published in 2025. The final standard will state both an effective date and a mandatory date. 

  • The effective date is planned for Q1 2026 and means that auditing and certification may begin voluntarily when requested from approved certification bodies. 
  • The mandatory date will be no sooner than 12-months following the final standard publication date according to our standard setting procedure.  The mandatory date is expected mid-2026 and means that all applicable audits from that date onwards are required to be to the new standard.  Existing standards superseded by the Materials Matter Standard will be retired on a transition timeline in alignment with the Materials Matter Standard mandatory deadlines.
Q: What should we, as organizations, do to prepare our supply chains for this change? 

For supply chain sites and brands who are certified to the CCS, the development of the Materials Matter Standard will not create significant changes in the certification process as sites will continue to be audited to the CCS. With that said, the Standards Claims and Logo Use Policies will be revised to reflect the new standard logo and language. There will also be a reduced auditing scope for sites currently certified to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) that is implemented.

It is best practice for brands and supply chain sites to begin engaging with upstream partners in their supply networks to support their adoption of the Materials Matter Standard. Sites at the raw material production and first processing stages (Tier 4) will play the most pivotal role in meeting the new requirements. However, proactive transition initiatives further downstream may facilitate the uptake and flow of certified fiber during this shift.  

Q: If I am working towards getting certified now, or already certified, what will change for me? 

As with all of our standard launches, there is an implementation period. Sites that are currently certified to the standards will have a year period to review the updated standard requirements and prepare for the changes. Once the effective date begins, sites may get certified to the new standard during their annual reaudit. Once the mandatory date is in effect, sites must get certified to the new standard to maintain their certification status.

Q: What is changing for brands?  

Because the impact areas of the Materials Matter Standard are directed at Tier 4 (raw material production and first processing stage), all impact criteria (chemical management, waste management, water use, energy use, emissions, and human rights and livelihoods) are implemented only from the raw material level through pre-spinning processing. Therefore, the new standard does not cover impact-related requirements for supply chain sites in tiers 1-3.

Given this, one point of departure from current practice will be for tier 1-3 sites who are certified to the GRS, as the social, environmental, and chemical modules will no longer be implemented in the supply chain once the GRS is replaced by the Materials Matter Standard in 2026.

The Materials Matter Standard will have a new standard logo and certification label, which will be part of a larger, comprehensive update to the claims and labeling system. To support this shift, we are in the process of creating a transition plan that will allow adequate time for certified organizations to move to the new claims and labeling system while phasing out the current standards logos. The transition timeline is still to be determined. 

Q: Will the Content Claim Standard (CCS) remain in the Materials Matter Standard?

Yes, the CCS will be part of the Materials Matter Standard system as our core chain of custody requirements for tracking certified inputs and outputs. The CCS will not be included in the revision of the Materials Matter Standard, but rather, it will stay on a separate development track to service our current standards as well as to support the implementation of the Materials Matter Standard.

Q: What will happen to the OCS during the development of the Materials Matter Standard?  

Our aim for the Materials Matter Standard (MMS) is to provide a unified approach to certification and chain of custody across all the materials within our strategic focus. Within cotton, it is important to acknowledge that there is a robust landscape of sustainability systems that already cover farm-level standards and certification as well as implementation support to producers. Following stakeholder review during the development process of the Material Matter Standard, we determined that the most effective way for our standards system to support our strategic goals regarding cotton involves two main approaches:

  • Support the uptake and efficiency of existing cotton farm-level sustainability systems. We will do this through our work outside of the standards system but can also offer certified input recognition and access to our traceability tools to support those systems that may benefit from those tools. We will approach this with a focus on partnership and alignment behind shared Climate and Nature goals.
  • Manage the Organic Content Standard (OCS) as a standalone standard in parallel to the MMS. Future development may also include a way to recognize organic producers and producer groups that are addressing areas out of the scope of traditional organic certification systems (e.g., human rights and livelihoods, regenerative practices, and impact data collection).


As was the case in the second draft of the unified standard criteria development, the MMS Pilot Version 1.0 does not include farm-level cotton production criteria to align with the stated approach above. The standard includes facility-level criteria for eligible cotton feedstocks entering the MMS system at the first processing stage for cotton (ginning) as part of our future plans to include cotton through recognition partnerships. The MMS facility-level criteria will not be required for sites seeking certification to the separate OCS.  

Q: What will happen to the GRS/RCS (recycled standards) revision during the Materials Matter Standard development?  

In April 2021, Textile Exchange began a revision of the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) 4.0 and Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) 2.0. In July 2021, Textile Exchange began a comprehensive revision of the Textile Exchange Standards framework with the intent to embed its Climate+ strategy into a more unified standard system across its suite of standards. The GRS/RCS revision that we began in early 2021 will roll into the Materials Matter Standard.  

Q: How are requirements that reference ZDHC guidelines revised for first processing facilities in the Materials Matter Standard?  

The ZDHC MRSL criterion was removed from the first draft of the Materials Matter Standard since the ZDHC MRSL guidance was not meant for Tier 4 facilities (i.e., first processing where the chemicals used in the manufacturing are building blocks and cannot be replaced). Therefore, it is necessary to replace the ZDHC MRSL and add chemical requirements that would be more suitable for this tier of the supply chain. Hence, in the Materials Matter Standard Pilot V1.0, we have introduced several new criteria that are more relevant to the first processing of recycled materials. The summary of changes made to the second draft based on the feedback received can be reviewed in the Recycled Materials Summary Paper.

Q: Will group certification still be part of the Materials Matter Standard?  

Criteria for managing farm group certificates have been developed for the Materials Matter Standard Pilot V1.0. Many of these criteria are adapted from pre-existing criteria in the current animal fiber and down standards. This section includes communal farmers.

Q: Will we see the updates to the Farmer Questionnaires as part of the Materials Matter Standard, regarding additional monitoring, evaluation, and learning indicators being added?  

Yes, questionnaires remain a vital part of the Materials Matter Standard. We are currently working on updated questionnaires for farms and processors to support MEL indicators. We plan to share the updated draft questionnaires publicly, as soon as they become available. Please check back on our website soon.

Q: Is the dTrackit tool going to be aligned with this new standard? How?  

dTrackit will align to the Materials Matter Standard system as a traceability mechanism. The dTrackit system was developed to supplement our standards in use today and it will be adapted to support the implementation of the future Materials Matter system.

This means materials certified to the Materials Matter Standard and traced via Transaction Certificates (TCs) will populate users’ dTrackit dashboards in the same way material certified to our existing standards do now. Brands who are certified to one of our current standards will continue to have access to dTrackit once the Material Matter Standard is adopted, assuming they continue to undergo recertification to the CCS. Brands who become CCS certified after the implementation of the new standard will also be granted access upon registration.

Transaction Certificates (TC) and Scope Certificates (SC) issued by certification bodies for the Materials Matter Standard will be required to be uploaded to dTrackit as per our current policies and can be used to indicate conformance to the CCS during audits.

Q:How are you looking at the inclusion of biomaterials in the Materials Matter Standard?  

Biomaterials are the feedstocks used to produce biosynthetics. The main feedstocks currently used for biosynthetics are high sugar or starch-containing agricultural crops such as corn, sugar beet, sugarcane, and–to a minor extent–also wheat and cassava, as well as oil crops such as castor. These crops are the main feedstocks currently used because they are commercially available in large quantities, provide consistent quality, are the most economical, and do not face the difficulties associated with the use of alternative feedstocks such as agricultural waste. We are exploring options for including Biomaterials in the Materials Matter Standard through recognition partnerships.

Q:Why is latex no longer included in the scope of materials?  

Some materials originally proposed for the scope of the standard have been removed from the first version; this includes removal of latex criteria that had been included in the Pilot Version. This decision is based on where we have decided we need to focus our resources to drive towards the release of the Materials Matter Standard.

Latex processing at the initial phases of manufacturing is complex and mandates specific expertise when it comes to standards development and writing criteria that are credible for audit evaluations. The extent of research for criteria across all other materials in the Materials Matter Standard scope is vast and has resulted in a decision to focus on certain priority materials.

Q:Why is yak no longer included in the scope of materials?  

Some materials originally proposed for the scope of the standard have been removed from the first version; this includes removal of yak criteria that had been included in Draft 1. This decision is based on where we have decided we need to focus our resources to drive towards the release of the Materials Matter Standard.

Yak is not included in the rollout of the Materials Matter Standard for 2025, but we are discussing internally if and how we will expand the scope of our standards systems in the long-term. The Materials Matter Standard currently includes the animal fibers that are already covered under the Responsible Animal Fibers as well as other strategic materials. As we learn from the initial piloting and rollout of the Materials Matter Standard in 2024/25, we will revisit and align the Materials Matter Standard scope with our overarching strategic decisions. Textile Exchange is currently developing a strategic approach to establish a more comprehensive material scope by material category across our portfolio of tools and resources.

Q:Are skins included in the Materials Matter Standard?

"Skins" has been added to the material column. This subsection is optional for sheep, mohair, and alpaca farms that wish to sell skins with certified claims. The animals must come from a RAF certified farm to be able to make claims about the skins.

Q:How are responsibly sourced natural materials and reclaimed/repurposed materials addressed within the Materials Matter Standard?

To shift the focus from recycling of pre- and post-consumer waste and to unlock untapped potential in circularity, a couple of new mandatory certification (conformance) criteria are introduced in the waste management sub-section that recognize: 1) reutilization of certified by-products from the process; and 2) unqualified pre- and post-consumer materials which are not allowed in GRS. Although the reutilization of by-products and unqualified pre- and post-consumer materials used in manufacturing will not be considered for recycled content claim, in order to reduce the burden on virgin inputs it is essential that reuse, resource efficiency and other practices by the industry are given recognition to maximize benefits and positive environmental impact.

To promote closed-loop recycling we have introduced a new leadership criterion that requires that feedstock for recycling come from reclaimed pre- and post-textile inputs; in other words, organizations are encouraged to promote textile-to-textile recycling.

Q:How does the Materials Matter Standard differ from Textile Exchange’s Preferred Fiber and Materials Matrix (PFMM)?

The PFMM is a tool that assesses different standards across the industry, including those owned by Textile Exchange as well as standards owned by peer organizations. The PFMM helps inform areas in the Materials Matter Standard just as other tools and information have informed its development. The PFMM will not apply as specific criteria in the Materials Matter Standard; the standard and PFMM will co-exist as separate tools managed within the organization.

Q:What are you doing to ensure that the claims guidance is in line with EU legislation?

The consumer-facing certification label that will be used for certification claims is still underway. As we move forward in 2024, the labeling task force continues its work to provide feedback on the certification label from an industry perspective. Given the importance of labels for consumer appeal, we are aiming to conduct consumer surveys or focus groups to also gain this audience’s insights. Finally, we are continuing our due diligence work related to legal compliance for claims and labeling. We are therefore planning further legal reviews and assessments of the new claims and labeling system to support legal compliance.

Q: Which fibers and materials are within scope of the Materials Matter Standard?  

During the development process, we will be moving from six standards (i.e., GRS, RCS, RDS, RWS, RMS, and RAS) to one harmonized standard system, which will have criteria applicable to different materials/feedstocks as well as supply chain tiers. The main impact areas of the Materials Matter Standard system focus on Tier 4 (raw material management and first processing). The materials in scope for the Materials Matter Standard include:

  • Animal-derived: sheep wool, mohair, alpaca, down, and skins
  • Recycled: synthetic, natural materials, and recycled MMCF

For our other strategic raw materials, we have an objective to work through partnerships with organizations managing raw material sustainability systems in an effort to reduce duplication in certification processes and merge efforts on shared climate and nature goals. Consequently, some of the materials proposed for inclusion within the scope of the Materials Matter Standard will be added through the recognition of external standards rather than through direct Textile Exchange raw material certification. These materials are:

  • Animal Derived: Cashmere
  • Forest and plant derived: Man-made Cellulosic Fibers (MMCF) and biosynthetics
  • Fiber Crops: Cotton

We are developing a framework for recognition partnerships with peer organizations designed to capture new raw materials as well as overlapping impact criteria areas such as human rights & livelihoods or chemical management. The framework is built to collaborate with organizations that own and manage sustainability systems and standards (or other means of verification), as a collective partnership toward the Climate+ goal and in an effort to reduce duplication of audit processes for similar scopes. Development of the recognition concept is a significant body of work that will continue into 2024, particularly around building partnerships with peer organizations and pilot testing the options.  
Q: What is changing in relation to Fiber Crops?  

Please review the Fiber Crops Summary Paper. 

Q: What is changing for Animal Materials producers?

Please review the Animal Materials Summary Paper. 

Q: What is changing for Recycled Materials?

Please review the Recycled Materials Summary Paper. 

 

Textile Exchange ID (TE-ID)| Top

Q: What is TE-ID and how do I register?  

Effective January 1, 2024, all organizations seeking certification, re–certification, or wishing to add/update facilities to a valid scope certificate must register with Textile Exchange. This policy requirement can be found in the recently updated Policy for Scope Certificates & Policy for Transaction Certificates. Certification bodies will not be able to issue scope or transaction certificates without the organization’s TE-ID. 

The registration process provides us with your organization’s facility names and addresses, allowing a unique TE-ID to be assigned. It is also a way for you to provide contact information that we will use to keep you updated on our standards. 

If you are an organization seeking certification or recertification and have not registered before, follow the steps below: 

Registration is a four-step process:  

  1. Provide your organization’s name and contact details and agree to the terms and conditions.  

  1. Find your organization in our database or provide your organization’s address. 

  1. Provide additional organizational details.  

  1. Register the facilities covered by your organization’s certification.  


If you have already registered and are just looking to add or update facilities on your existing scope certificate, click “Add or update facilities.”  


Once you are done, the Textile Exchange team will review your submission. An email with your confirmation and a unique TE-ID will be sent within 14 business days. Your certification body will then be able to issue or update your scope certificate. 

Q: Who needs to register?  

As of January 1st, 2024, all organizations seeking certification, re-certification, or wishing to add/update facilities to a valid scope certificate (SC) must register for TE-ID with Textile Exchange. This means all organizations need to have registered for TE-ID before being issued an SC after a successful recertification or initial audit in 2024. 

Each organization must register itself and all the facilities it covers under a certification scope. This applies even if your organization operates as a facility under a different SC. 

If your organization holds multiple SCs, you only need to register once and include all the associated facilities from across those certificates in a single registration.   

Q: When can I register for my TE-ID?

Organizations pursuing initial certification may register for their TE-ID after contracting with and obtaining client code/license number from their certification body. Organizations recertifying may register for their TE-ID at any time before the issuance of their scope certificate (SC) for the next validity period. Given that it may take up to 14 calendar days to receive a TE-ID upon registration, Textile Exchange recommends registering well in advance of an initial or recertification audit to ensure you have your TE-ID in time and can receive your SC immediately. 

If you are having trouble during registration, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our help team at TEID@textileexchange.org 

Q: As a non-certified buyer of certified materials, is registration for a TE-ID required?   

While registration for a TE-ID is not mandatory for a non-certified organization, it is available as an optional choice. Non-certified organizations may choose to register for a TE-ID if they wish to use it on, for example, the transaction certificate. 

Q: TE-ID on scope certificates (SCs)  

All SCs issued in 2024 must have TE-ID, requiring all organizations to register for TE-ID before they can receive their SC after a recertification or initial audit in 2024.  

Starting April 1, 2024, dTrackit will begin rejecting SCs issued without the certified organization's TE-ID and SCs without facility TE-ID starting May 1, 2024. However, the inclusion of the seller’s and certified buyer’s TE-IDs on all SCs has been required since January 1, 2024.  

If an SC is updated after April or May 1, 2024, but before recertification (e.g., to add a product or facility) the certification body will need to add the pre-assigned TE-ID on behalf of the site. 

To reiterate, certified organizations must register before recertification in 2024 (or by the end of 2024), even if the organization has a pre-assigned TE-ID. If an organization registers for TE-ID before undergoing their recertification audit in 2024, they do not need to amend their current SC unless the SC is being amended for another reason.  

Q: TE-ID on transaction certificates (TCs) 

As of January 1st, 2024, all TCs must include the TE-ID of both the seller and the certified buyer. Non-certified buyers and traders are not currently required to register for a TE-ID, but they may choose to do so. 

Since the seller is the client of the certification body (CB) issuing the TC, CBs are more likely to flag missing seller TE-IDs. However, CBs have access to all TE-IDs through API and can verify a buyer's certification status using dTrackit. As per the policy, CBs are within their discretion to reject TC applications without seller TE-ID, and missing buyer TE-ID, if after due diligence, the buyer is determined to be certified.  

Starting April 1, 2024, dTrackit will begin rejecting TCs without a seller TE-ID. However, the inclusion of seller's and certified buyer's TE-IDs on TCs has been required since January 1st, 2024. Additionally, according to section E 2.1.11 in CCS Certification Procedures, CBs may issue TCs without seller or certified buyer TE-IDs if they are confident that all other information is correct. It is not necessary to amend TCs issued without TE-IDs.