Brands will continue to operate under the Content Claim Standard (CCS) for chain of custody certification, while adding the Materials Matter scope where required. During the transition period, brands may hold both legacy standards and Materials Matter scope where applicable.

To make Materials Matter claims, brands must hold certification that includes the Materials Matter scope.

From June 30, 2029, all new product claims must be submitted as Materials Matter claims for approval.

Organizations are encouraged to engage with their certification body (CB) to understand how Materials Matter scope applies to their certification and to prepare for the transition.

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During the transition period, organizations may hold both legacy standards and Materials Matter scope where applicable. Materials Matter Certified materials will be tracked through the CCS, consistent with the current system. Additionally, Textile Exchange will develop optional environmental and social modules for use by Tiers 1–3 of the supply chain.

Organizations are encouraged to engage with their Certification Body (CB), assess how the Materials Matter scope applies to their operations, and prepare to incorporate it into their scope certificate (SC) where required.

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From December 31, 2026, the Materials Matter Standard becomes effective, and organizations may begin to request audits to the new standard.

From December 31, 2027, certification to the Materials Matter Standard becomes mandatory for Tier 4. Audits to the old standards will no longer be permitted.

From January 1, 2028, all Tier 4 audits must be conducted to the Materials Matter Standard.

Organizations are encouraged to begin preparing by engaging with their Certification Body (CB), assessing any gaps between current standards and the Materials Matter Standard, and planning future audits and certification updates accordingly.

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The Materials Matter system harmonizes how certification thresholds are applied across materials, supporting consistent tracking of certified volumes through supply chains.

A minimum certification threshold of 5% certified material applies across all materials in the Materials Matter system for inclusion on a Transaction Certificate (TC).

Applying a single certification threshold across all materials simplifies how the system operates and reduces complexity for users of the Material Matter Standard certification.

Consumer-facing product claims are governed by the Materials Matter Claims and Labeling Policy, which defines minimum thresholds for labeling and product claims.

This distinction allows the system to reduce barriers to certification and enable tracking of smaller volumes, while maintaining a higher bar for consumer-facing claims to support credibility and trust.

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We have identified key areas of work, including Human Rights and Livelihoods in relation to due diligence, to align with legislation currently in development, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).  

We are currently monitoring the development of legislation that is in an earlier stage, such as the Green Claims Directive (GCD) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) delegated acts for textiles.  

We have also taken ESPR into account in key areas of work, such as the updates we have made to the Reclaimed Materials Declaration Form (RMDF), which now more clearly supports the feedstock eligibility requirements for reclaimed materials.  

As part of the strategy for the standards system alignment with legislation, Textile Exchange is developing a prioritization framework to determine which legislation will be prioritized for alignment first. Determination of the exact timeline and the external communication is currently being defined.  

The post How is the EU legislation considered in the development of the Materials Matter standard system?  appeared first on Textile Exchange.

• This threshold applies only to final products or components.   

• It applies to consumer-facing claims only, it does not apply to unfinished products in B2B transactions or transaction certificate eligibility.   

• The 30% threshold is a combined requirement that can be achieved through a blend of multiple Materials Matter certified materials.  

Examples: 

• Product containing 50% certified recycled polyester and 50% cotton. 

• Component containing 100% certified wool. 

• Product containing 5% certified recycled nylon and 25% certified alpaca. 

After careful and intentional data and feedback gathering, we have confirmed the 30% labeling threshold is both largely achievable while meeting a higher standard to drive impact and maintain credibility. The majority of certified materials in our system can achieve the 30% minimum as a single material on their own.  

Materials that cannot achieve the 30% threshold on their own can be blended with other certified materials to achieve the minimum threshold for labeling. 

Recycled MMCFs and recycled cotton are the two exceptions to the 30% threshold and will adopt a lower, time-bound, labeling threshold of 20%. There are current technical limitations to achieving a 30% labeling threshold for these materials.  Setting a threshold of 20% for these materials now still sets a high ambition level and ensures that at least 20% of the materials in the product support the goals of the Materials Matter Standard to move the industry toward more uptake of certified materials. 

We intend to raise the labeling threshold for these materials to 30% to align it with all materials in scope of the Materials Matter Standard in line with industry progress on the technical limitations. 

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The post How is Textile Exchange approaching partnerships? Will there be new fibers and materials in the standard in the future?   appeared first on Textile Exchange.

2026 will be dedicated to preparation, with a particular priority placed on preparing certification bodies (CBs) so they are fully equipped to begin auditing against the new system in 2027. CBs will receive targeted training to ensure consistency and confidence in how the standard is applied across different materials and geographies.  

At the same time, other stakeholders, including producers, suppliers, and brands, will have opportunities to align internal systems, adapt processes, and begin capacity-building activities. Engagement throughout this phase will emphasize practice, peer exchange, and readiness-building so that by the end of 2026, certification bodies and stakeholders are positioned to move into optional implementation. 

From 2028 onward, the Materials Matter Standard is required for all Tier 4 audits to maintain certification. This shift establishes a clear and consistent standard of practice for raw material production and primary processing across the certified community. 

To learn more, please refer to the Transition Policy.

The post When will the Materials Matter Standard come into effect and what will happen to certifications against current Textile Exchange Standards?  appeared first on Textile Exchange.

Textile Exchange began developing the new framework in 2021 with a clear goal: to align the ambition, rigor, and expected results across its material-specific standards and transition the industry into a more coherent, science-aligned way to measure and verify impact. 

Since then, the organization has worked closely with stakeholders from across the supply system to design and test a framework that is both robust and workable in real-world production systems. 

Built on a combination of practice-based and outcome-based expectations, the standard includes comprehensive criteria for land management, animal welfare, human rights and livelihoods, and primary processing, which covers water, chemical, and energy use, as well as waste and emissions management. Its purpose is to provide a common language and shared direction for the industry, while recognizing the unique contexts of different material producers, processors, and the communities and landscapes they depend on.  

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