As the younger generations increase their focus on sustainability, and gain in buying power, the issue of traceability in the textiles and apparel industry is rising to the top of the list as buyers decide which brands to support—and which not to support.

According to an article in Modern Retail, “Traceability is the ability to track the production process of a product from the raw materials’ source to where the finished products were delivered. While traceability is not necessarily a new concept in retail, more brands appear to be jumping on board. French fashion house Chloé is enabling products to be completely traceable and ready for the resale market through a digital ID system called Chloé Vertical. Just a few months ago, in June, Tapestry, H&M Group and Adidas were some of over a dozen retail brands that signed a pledge to ramp up transparency in the leather supply chain.” Traceability not only gives consumers insight into environmental impact of the clothing and footwear they are considering for purchase, but also delves into the human rights impact.

Regulatory agencies are also jumping into the fray—so brands that get ahead of the game in putting in place traceability programs will benefit as others scramble to comply. In Europe, for example, “The Eco-design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) was unveiled in March 2022 and is moving through legislative debates. It looks at durability, energy use, recycling, carbon and environmental footprints and a digital product passport that will deep dive into a garment’s sourcing and manufacture with strict reporting requirements.” Regulatory agencies there expect to see a very different framework for apparel and footwear companies to operate under by 2030.