Keep a track of the latest updates on the fashion and retail regulations in the United Kingdom and understand their implications for your brand:
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Textile Industry Network
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The UK government has set a legally binding target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The UK government has introduced requirements like SECR for organizations to report on their carbon emissions and reduction plans, especially for government procurement.
Decarbonisation is the term used for removal or reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) output into the atmosphere. Decarbonisation can be achieved by switching to usage of alternative plant-based materials, low carbon energy sources and renewable-powered electrification.
A Decarbonisation program is a structured plan aimed at reducing corporate greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide, within a fashion brand or retailer. Most effective decarbonisation plans require close collaboration with textile manufacturers, climate investors or institutional funds, and internal stakeholders. For more details, read our blog on decarbonisation.
Stella McCartney uses responsibly sourced materials like organic cotton, synthetic silks, upcycled faux furs, and recycled polyester to decarbonise its operations. Further, it Introduced innovative alternatives like APINAT (a biodegradable rubber) in footwear and Eco Alter-Nappa (a vegan leather alternative).
Certain sectors, including energy-intensive industries, aviation, maritime, and heavy-duty vehicles in the United Kingdom, the fashion industry also posses a significant challenge with the rise of fast fashion and lack of recycling/waste management programs.
AI-powered Product footprint at scale aligned with global standards like ISO/PEF/ADEME leveraging primary product, supplier/facility, and traceability data.
Carbon Trail’s scenario planning module allows teams to define targets, configure carbon reduction initiatives, and simulate the impact of initiatives on the overall corporate carbon footprint.
Carbon Trail offers an automated alternative to collect, validate and verify primary supplier data from facilities on a frequent basis.
If you make or sell apparel in France, the new “environmental cost” or France Textile Eco-Score label is about to touch everything from your bills of materials to your product pages. This guide cuts through the noise: what’s required, when, how the score is calculated, where it must be shown, and how to prepare without derailing your team.
France has finalized the France Textile Eco-Score (coût environnemental) label for textiles — a single score based on life cycle assessment that aggregates 16 environmental indicators (e.g., greenhouse gas emissions, water use, fossil resource use, microfibre release) into consumer‑facing “environmental points.” Basically, the higher the points, the higher the impact. The methodology is coordinated by the Ministry of Ecological Transition with ADEME, aligned with the EU’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF), and tailored to textiles (official methodology and decree).
Summarising, France notified the European Commission of the framework; the Commission validated the methodology earlier this year. Final regulatory texts are approved, with entry into force on October 1, 2025.
Milestone | What it means for brands |
Sept 15, 2025 | Public declaration portal opens for data submissions (official portal) |
Oct 1, 2025 | Voluntary period begins; brands can publish environmental cost |
Oct 2026 | Mandatory phase begins; third parties may publish Textile Eco-Score if brands don’t |
For example, independent reporting has shown large gaps between lower‑impact and higher‑impact garments: e.g., a France‑made jean at 1,125 points vs. a typical fast‑fashion jean at 4,435 points; an organic cotton T‑shirt at 443 points vs. 1,005 points for conventional cotton (Le Monde coverage).
Basically, sooner or later a score will be published for your brand. The question remains whether you will be the one controlling it or not.
Summarising the decree, you will require a list of data points which may vary slightly depending on the category o the product as well as the processes used to manufacture and finish it. To illustrate, the team at Carbon Trail has studied the regulation and presented an example below:
Data Point | Description | Example | Portal Field Name (Ecobalyse) |
Product definition | Core identification of the garment, including reference code, type, and variants | T-shirt/Polo | Catégorie de produit |
Weight of product | Final weight of the product | 150g | Masse du produit fini |
Accessories | Any accessories used within the product - description and count of accessories | Plastic button x3 | Accessoires |
Price of product | Retail price of the new product | €10 | Prix neuf |
Number of references | Sample size used to calculate | 100,000 | Nombre de références |
Type of company | Type of company manufacturing the garment and whether repair is provided | Large company without repair service | Entreprise |
Material used | Composition of the materials used in product along with geographical origins for each | 80% cotton - Asia Pacific, 10% recycled cotton (post-consumer waste) - France, 10% recycled cotton (post-production waste) - Spain & France | Matières premières |
Step 2 - Spinning Yarn | Process and location of spinning the yarn used | China - conventional | Transformation - Filature |
Step 3 - Weaving/Knitting | Process and location of the weaving/knitting | Cambodia - straight knitting | Transformation - Tissage / Tricotage |
Step 4 - Finishing | Processes and location of the finishing (treatment/dyeing/printing) | Myanmar - batch dyeing & 20% pigment | Transformation - Ennoblissement |
Step 5 - Tailoring | Processes and location of the final assembly | India - medium complexity, 15% material loss, 15% dormant stock, 100% aerial transport | Transformation - Confection |
Distribution, Usage, End of Life | Parameters that reflect environmental cost of these attributes | Cannot be modified | Distribution, Utilisation, Fin de vie |
Carbon Trail is built for textile supply chain data complexity and regulatory‑grade traceability. Here’s how we streamline your path to the French environmental cost label while giving you levers to reduce it:
Learn about all of Carbon Trail's current and upcoming features to simplify compliance here.
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