Textile Exchange Confirms Plans for Materials Matter Partnership Approach
Lisbon, Portugal – October 2025 – Textile Exchange has announced an updated approach to partnering as part of its forthcoming Materials Matter System, marking a key step in aligning the global textile industry around a shared approach to preferred material production.
The Materials Matter Standard is a voluntary sustainability standard for the production and initial processing of raw materials. It represents an important step in the transition of our current suite of standards, designed to incentivize a system in which the materials in our clothing and textiles support climate goals, respect human rights and animal welfare, and drive beneficial outcomes for soil health, water, and biodiversity.
The announcement was made by Ashley Gill, Chief Standards & Strategy Officer at Textile Exchange, during the organization’s annual conference. Gill confirmed that partnership agreements will be central to the Materials Matter System, recognizing material partner programs that align with Textile Exchange’s principles of preferred production.
“By working through partnerships, we can reduce duplication for brands and producers, improve traceability, and accelerate measurable progress for climate and nature,” said Ashley Gill.
Our approach to partnership will ensure that key fibers covered by our current standards, including wool, mohair, alpaca, recycled materials, and organic cotton, remain integral to Textile Exchange’s new standards system and there will be a gradual transition pathway for the Organic Content Standard (OCS) to become part of the Materials Matter System. This pathway will preserve key functions of the OCS such as traceability, while our approach to partnership will strengthen the system and enable the achievement of more holistic, farmer-centered outcomes.
The evolution also draws on more than two decades of working alongside the organic cotton community, and reflects extensive consultation from producers, suppliers and brands. It also takes into account the wider global context of increased scrutiny around green claims, transparency, and traceability of supply chains. There is a need to focus on strong integrity systems that can stand up to this emerging landscape.
Our goal is to partner with credible partner systems and align them under one shared vision for climate and nature impact – reducing duplication, easing the burden on suppliers, and enabling brands to more easily source materials that deliver measurable benefits on the ground. By building a framework that supports ease of sourcing and works to create clearer pathways to scaling preferred production systems, we aim to unlock greater adoption across the industry. This new approach goes beyond traditional standards recognition to support traceability to farm level, and support those on the ground to adopt, maintain and champion organic production systems.
By collaborating with recognized established partners that build on the IFOAM Family of Standards, Textile Exchange will create a holistic, partnership-driven approach that expands opportunity and impact across the industry. In addition to organic systems, the organization will explore partnerships that recognize preferred production systems in cotton more broadly and man-made cellulosics.
“Partnership and connection have always been at the heart of our work and we will bring this spirit directly into our standards system” added Ashley Gill.
“This updated approach to partnership will be built on reciprocal benefit. Together, Textile Exchange and its partners will work in a way that is both mutually rewarding and drives real progress for animals, climate and nature.”
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