Compliance
More than 40,000 organizations across 33-plus countries now use some version of the Higg Index (Cascale). For most apparel brands, though, that data still lives in someone’s inbox. Specifically, it sits in a PDF exported from a supplier’s Higg Facility Environmental Module assessment. Usually, that PDF gets filed away until…
A lot of blog posts make the same claim. They say the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation already caps empty space in shipping boxes at 40 percent, starting in 2026. That figure is wrong on two counts. The official text sets the limit at 50 percent, not 40. Specifically,…
Most mid-market fashion brands no longer have to comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. That is a direct result of the 2026 Omnibus simplification, which narrowed the rule’s scope substantially. Specifically, only companies above both 1,000 employees and 450 million euros in annual turnover remain in mandatory scope. However,…
The EU deforestation regulation no longer covers leather. A December 2025 revision quietly dropped it. That surprises most brands, since leather was the material everyone assumed the law targeted. What actually stayed in scope is narrower. Specifically: natural rubber for shoe soles and elastics, viscose-family fibers made from dissolving wood…
A California Prop 65 clothing claim almost never starts with a government inspector at your warehouse door. Instead, it starts with a certified letter. That letter usually comes from a private citizen’s law firm, one you have likely never heard of. In fact, the brand then gets exactly 60 days…
The New York Fashion Act is a proposed state law, not an active one. It would require large apparel, footwear, and handbag companies to map their supply chains. It would also require those companies to disclose their environmental impact publicly. As of March 2025, the bill is still moving through…
EU CSDDD compliance looked very different in early 2026 than it does now. The Omnibus simplification package was published in the Official Journal in February 2026. It pushed the transposition deadline to July 26, 2028, and application to July 26, 2029 (Covington & Burling, Feb 2026). That is a real…
PFAS in clothing means per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Specifically, these are synthetic “forever chemicals” used in durable water repellent (DWR) finishes, stain-resistant coatings, and some moisture-wicking treatments. At least eight U.S. states now restrict PFAS in clothing, and the rules are not aligned. For example, California’s threshold drops from 100…
The EU Green Claims Directive was a proposed law requiring companies to independently verify voluntary environmental claims. In June 2025, however, the European Commission withdrew the proposal entirely. It cited concerns about the administrative burden on smaller businesses. That withdrawal does not, in fact, mean unproven “eco-friendly” labels are now…
California SB 707 is the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2024, the first extended producer responsibility (EPR) law for textiles in the United States. It makes brands, importers, and retailers financially responsible for end-of-life collection, repair, and recycling. That responsibility attaches to any apparel and textile product they place on…
