Textile Exchange
Global nonprofit driving beneficial impact on climate through accelerating the use of preferred fibres and materials. Owns standards such as RCS, GRS, RWS, and RDS.
- Preferred fibre standards
- Materials Benchmark
- Climate+ strategy
Recent headlines
10 articles
Q&A: How Certification Bodies Will Apply The Materials Matter Standard
As we transition toward the Materials Matter Standard system, we’ve released two new policies that will play a key role in ensuring consistent and robust certification: Materials Matter Criteria for Certification Bodies Materials Matter Risk and Sampling Criteria and Tools We spoke with Gweneth Langdon, Senior Director of Standards at Textile Exchange, about the transition to Materials Matter and
Aug 6, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange
How Portuguese Recycler Valérius 360 is Transforming Waste into a Resource
Words by Zoë Goodhead, with photography by Luisa Bravo After a winding journey through the cobbled streets of small villages in Guilhabreu, on the outskirts of Porto, Portugal, the landscape opens out into green hillsides and fields. On an unassuming road lies the home of Valérius 360’s operations, a large factory facility where new life is breathed into would-be textile waste. The staff are proud
Jul 9, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange
How Textile Exchange’s Standards System Meets the Empowering Consumers Directive’s Definition of a Certification Scheme
The European Union has introduced a range of environmental legislation set to reshape the textile, fashion, and apparel industry. This article focuses on the Empowering Consumers Directive, exploring how Textile Exchange’s standards system is well-positioned to help companies make substantiated and credible claims in alignment with the directive. What is the Empowering Consumers Directive? The Emp
Jul 1, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange
Discover the Key Insights from the Organic Cotton Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye
Hosted by the Organic Cotton Accelerator and Textile Exchange, the Organic Cotton Summit brought voices from across the organic cotton ecosystem and beyond to Istanbul from June 2–4, 2026. Growing cotton organically supports healthier soils, reduces reliance on external inputs, and helps build stronger resilience to climate stress. These outcomes matter for farmers’ livelihoods and for the long-te
Jun 10, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange
Preserving Peru’s Heritage One Alpaca at a Time
Words by Claudio Sala and Julia Webster Ayuso, with photography by Alejandra Orosco This story was featured in Unwoven Issue 03, Textile Exchange’s annual magazine. Read the full issue here. High in the harsh landscapes of Peru’s central Andes, alpacas have sustained families for generations—not just as a livelihood, but as part of daily life and identity. For farmer Evelyn Diaz, preserving that b
Apr 8, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange
How France’s Anti-Waste Laws are Boosting Small Repair Shops
Words by Julia Webster Ayuso with photography by Erwann Petersen This story was featured in Unwoven Issue 03, Textile Exchange’s annual magazine. Read the full issue here. In France, the new Repair Bonus (Bonus Réparation) is making it cheaper for customers to mend their clothes and shoes while preserving a fading craft. Part of the country’s anti-waste law, the scheme is boosting business, attrac
Mar 31, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange
Finding Balance Through Collaboration and Certification in Portugal’s Eucalyptus Forests
Words by Lee clark, with photography by Teresa Freitas The hard granite rock beneath the forests of Talhadas, Portugal, has provided an income and a way of life for generations. Even the village name was chiseled from the landscape—Pedras Talhadas, meaning “carved” or “cut stones.” Today, it’s the trees that provide. Vast stands of eucalyptus cloak the hills, grown for wood pulp which is used in p
Mar 21, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange
How Cross-Sector Partnerships Made Recycled Cotton a Reality in Türkiye
Words by Julia Webster Ayuso with photography by Sabiha Çimen This story was featured in Unwoven Issue 03, Textile Exchange’s annual magazine. Read the full issue here. Combining technological innovation with large-scale production expertise, Säntis Textiles and Kipaş Textiles created the RCO100 system to transform textile waste into high-quality, garment-grade fiber. But it all started with a cha
Mar 18, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange
Inside the Smallholder Tribal Communities Growing Organic Cotton in India
Words by Rakshanda Bhat, with photography by Priyadarshini Ravichandran This story was featured in Unwoven Issue 03, Textile Exchange’s annual magazine. Read the full issue here. In the smallholder farming communities of Odisha and Madhya Pradesh, organic cotton is not just a crop—it is an inheritance, nurtured through ritual, tradition, and care for the land. With support from the Organic Cotton
Mar 8, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange
Solving the Ecosystem Regeneration Puzzle in South Africa
Words by Bronwyn Botha, with photography by Carl Van der Linde This story was featured in Unwoven Issue 03, Textile Exchange’s annual magazine. Read the full issue here. For South African wool farmer James Brodie, a locally adapted understanding of livestock and land management is helping regenerate his farm in the Karoo region. In doing so, he is building a resilient farming system that honors th
Feb 26, 2026·Read at Textile Exchange