The Materials Matter Standard is a voluntary sustainability standard for the production and initial processing of raw materials. It establishes what best practice looks like for different materials in various settings, from farms to recycling facilities. This new standard marks an important step in the evolution of our current suite of standards 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.

In line with Textile Exchange’s status as an ISEAL Code Compliant member, the principles and criteria for the new Materials Matter Standard were submitted to and approved by the IWG, an independent decision-making body. This body represents a cross section of the textile manufacturing industry, including brands, raw material producers, and civil society organizations. 

The new criteria will outline the requirements that raw material producers must fulfill to achieve their certification. The accompanying Materials Matter Claims and Labeling Policy will set out how organizations, including producers, can make claims and label products as Materials Matter certified. 

The practices defined within the criteria are grounded in decades of work within Textile Exchange’s current standards and align with its sharpened focus. They reflect its new organizational mission: to transform how we produce, choose, and reuse materials to benefit the people and places at the source. 

When the standard becomes effective in 2026, organizations certified with Textile Exchange’s existing standards can request audits by approved certification bodies. The mandatory date is expected to be in 2027, and organizations must complete their next audit to the new standard to maintain their certification from that date onwards. We will openly communicate exact effective and mandatory dates on December 12 alongside the publication of the standard criteria. 

In the meantime, Textile Exchange will continue to operate its current standards until the completion of the transition period. It is taking a phased, hands-on approach to support both brands and suppliers through the transition to the Materials Matter System and targeted consultations on other supporting policies will follow ahead of the effective date.