Higg Co and Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) in partnership with Social Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) in October launched a scored version of Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (Higg FSLM). Now brands can retire independent proprietary tools and be part of an industrywide effort to standardise facility auditing for social and labour issues. The Higg FSLM leverages the SLCP Converged Assessment Framework as its foundation. The Higg FSLM now provides judgement information, eliminating the need for brands to conduct individual audits to assess facilities’ performance, and Higg Index scoring enables comparability of the data. The score is out of 100 and covers issues like handling grievances, respectful treatment of workers, and child labour practices.

GOTS releases version 6.0 for environmental sustainability

GOTS in March released its version 6.0. The approach of the revision process, undertaken every three years, is to set stricter ecological and social criteria while maintaining relevance of the global organic textile standard. International stakeholders with expertise in the field of organic production, textile processing, textile chemistry, and social criteria and industry representatives, NGOs and consumers contributed to the new version 6.0, throughout the previous year in several consultation rounds. Key requirements such as certified organic fibre content, the general ban on toxic and harmful chemicals, conventional cotton and virgin polyester as well as the social compliance management have been maintained, while other criteria became stricter.

Higg launches Higg Product Module sustainability tool

BCI working with fellow sustainable cotton standards

Textile Exchange unveils the Organic Content Standard 3.0

Textile Exchange in April launched the Organic Content Standard (OCS) 3.0 after the conclusion of a regular revision process involving an international working group. Textile Exchange works to drive industry transformation in preferred fibres, integrity and standards, and responsible supply networks. The former OCS implementation manual is now divided into two documents. The OCS User Manual provides interpretation and guidance for users of the standard while the OCS certification procedures details requirements certification bodies must follow. The new version comes with more robust traceability between the farm and first processor.

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Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)