The standard, effective on December 31, 2026, aligns with the industry’s evolving expectations for people-centered sustainability across raw material production for the fashion, textile, and apparel industry, with criteria designed to protect human and labor rights on farms and in processing facilities.

The three new resources support organizations in translating the standard’s requirements into practical actions to identify human rights risks, strengthen health and safety, and support people in vulnerable positions. They also promote fair working conditions for all, including appropriate pay and benefits and measures to prevent excessive working hours and overtime.

The three new resources are:

• Human Rights and Livelihoods Quick Guide: Provides an introduction to the human rights and livelihood requirements of the Materials Matter Standard, the themes covered, and the approach to implementation.

• Human Rights Risk Assessment Tool: Helps organizations identify, prioritize, and address human rights risks in their operations.

• Human Rights Commitment & Code of Conduct Template: Designed to help organizations formalize their commitment to respecting all human rights and establish and implement a code of conduct.

Together, these resources support organizations in taking the human rights steps needed to successfully transition to the Materials Matter Standard, which ultimately gives brands, retailers, and consumers greater confidence that certified materials are produced with respect for people.

Siobhan Cullen, Lead, Human Rights and Social Responsibility, said: “Stronger human rights and livelihoods practices are central to meaningful sustainability progress and resilient supply systems. The Materials Matter Standard sets a holistic set of requirements incorporating respect for human rights, with the new guidance and tools released today supporting organizations in putting those requirements into practice. By transitioning to the Materials Matter Standard, organizations can play a key role in embedding greater social responsibility across the textile supply system and support a fairer and safer industry for the people and communities that depend on it.”

Practical human rights due diligence

The Materials Matter Standard makes human rights due diligence practical and achievable for organizations of different sizes. Its proportionate approach reflects differences in resources, operating contexts, and levels of risk, while maintaining a clear responsibility to respect human rights. Informed by both the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the approach helps organizations focus their efforts on implementing meaningful due diligence.

Transition to Materials Matter Standard

The publication of these documents marks another milestone in the transition to the Materials Matter Standard, which brings together Textile Exchange’s suite of material standards into a single, unified framework. The standard provides a shared direction for the fashion, textile, and apparel industry, while establishing consistent requirements across all materials so their production respects climate, nature, people, and animals.

The Human Rights and Livelihoods Quick Guide, Human Rights Risk Assessment Tool, and Human Rights Commitment & Code of Conduct Template were published on September 1, 2026.

The Materials Matter Standard becomes effective on December 31, 2026, and mandatory from December 31, 2027, with all audits conducted to the Materials Matter Standard before that date.