Supporting and guiding the sustainable development of UK fashion and textiles
UKFT’s Sustainability 101 Series been created to support and guide the sustainable development of the fashion and textiles industry in the UK.
The series of guides and webinars delve into the core principles of sustainability and what it means for our industry. It explores the fundamental concepts and practices required to shape a more sustainable industry via simple guides and thought-provoking but practical webinars.
Whether your business is at the start of its journey or leading the way, UKFT’s Sustainability 101 series aims to empower the sector with knowledge, inspire positive actions and foster a collective commitment towards a brighter, more sustainable future.
These guides and webinars are available to UKFT members. To learn more about membership, visit here.
Issue One: A UK manufacturers’ guide to standards and certification
The first edition of the UKFT Sustainability 101 series focuses on standards and certifications, offering a comprehensive guide to standards tailored specifically for the UK manufacturing industry. Our goal is to simplify the certification journey, making it easier for you to navigate the diverse landscape of standards and identify the one most suitable for your business.
The guide now covers:
- Wool and natural fibres
- Organic fibres
- Cotton
- Chemical Management
- Frameworks for responsible business
- Ecolabels
- Social audits
- Environmental audits
Find out more here.
Issue Two: A UK manufacturers’ guide to green claims
The second issue of Sustainability 101 is focused on green claims and provides insights for UK fashion and textile manufacturers on making accurate and reliable statements about their sustainability practices. Green claims are statements that highlight sustainable aspects in products, services, or businesses. These claims are crucial for establishing transparency, fostering trust with customers, and enhancing brand reputation. Given the rising customer demand for sustainability and the need to comply with EU requirements and legislation in various export destinations, understanding and reporting on green claims has become more important than ever.
Key Guide Highlights:
- Guidance on making and evidencing green claims.
- Communicating and wording green claims in labels, packaging, and marketing materials.
- Green claims requirements (legal and voluntary) existing in different parts of the world.
- A checklist outlining crucial steps for businesses, whether they are just starting their green claims journey or already well underway.
Find out more here.
Issue Three: A guide to human rights and environmental due diligence in supply chains
The third issue of the Sustainability 101 series focuses on due diligence in fashion and textiles. It explores the concept of due diligence, its history in business, information about existing and upcoming due diligence frameworks that could impact UK businesses. UKFT members can download their copy to find out more about tools and resources to implement due diligence into your business’ operations and supply chains.
The guide covers:
- Guidelines on existing and upcoming UK, EU and global due diligence, modern slavery and forced labour laws
- The origins and process of human rights and environmental due diligence in fashion and textiles
- Essential tools, resources and consideration for UK manufacturers to implement due diligence into their operations
Find out more here.
UKFT resources for Issue 3: A guide to human rights due diligence:
→ UKFT’s Code of Conduct template
Issue Four: A guide to chemical compliance
The fourth issue of the Sustainability 101 series offers guidance on chemical compliance for UK fashion and textile businesses, including key regulations, applicable standards and certifications, testing guidelines and a risk assessment. This guide has been created to help businesses stay informed and compliant with evolving chemical regulations in the industry.
The guide to chemical compliance for UK fashion and textile businesses includes:
- An overview UK REACH, EU REACH and Prop 65
- An overview of chemical regulations around the world including Switzerland Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, USA, Canada, Brazil, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, India and more.
- Details on applicable standards and certifications for chemical compliance
- Testing guidelines
- Risk assessment
- Glossary of terms
Find out more here.
UKFT resources for Issue 4: A guide to chemical compliance:
→ UKFT Risk Assessment Form template
→ UKFT Supplier Declaration of Compliance with REACH template
Upcoming editions
Further editions of Sustainability 101 willfollow, providing industry insight into new EUlegislation impacting UK businesses andenergy efficiency and decarbonisation.
Webinars
To accompany the Sustainability 101 guides, there are supporting webinars to expand on the topics covered. Recordings of the following webinars are now available for members to access:
- Taking responsibility through standardisation: Deep dive into OEKO-TEX certification
- Unlocking the business value of certification with Textile Exchange’s tools
- The Sustainable Fashion Communication Playbook Masterclass: Shifting the narrative on Green Claims. With the UN Environment Programme
- How to avoid greenwashing in fashion, with the CMA and Fox Williams
- Understanding responsible supply chains in fashion and textiles, with the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
- Introduction to Human Rights Due Diligence with Intertek and SLCP
- Understanding Environmental Due Diligence and Tools for Compliance with amfori, Fox Williams and Worldly
- EU Sustainability Legislations: What impact could it have on your business? With EURATEX
- Complying with the UK and EU REACH (Registration , Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) Regulations with Valpak
- High-risk restricted chemical substances in the apparel and footwear sector with Intertek
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Climate and Energy Regulations & Reporting: What UK businesses need to know with Envantage
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An introduction to greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting with Envantage
Upcoming webinars:
- 15 July 2025: Sustainability 101, From application to accreditation: The B Corp path
- 22 September 2025: Learning Lab: Managing modern slavery risk in the fashion and textile sector with BS25700
To view the latest webinars to register for, click here.
Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) resources
- Innovations in Textile and Apparel Dyeing Report
- Circular Manufacturing Report
- Responsible UK Fashion and Textile Supply Chains Report
- Advancing automation and robotics for sustainable manufacturing report
- CFIN Interim Report 2024: One Year of Convening, Listening and Testing
- CFIN Report 2025: Accelerating the UK towards a Circular Fashion Ecosystem
- Reshoring for Real: The future of domestic UK apparel manufacturing report
Additional assets
- Access industry reports from ACT UK project
- EPR variable fee white paper
- Sustainability glossary of terms
- Survey report 2023
UKFT Members: To receive a copy of the Sustainability 101 resources or a webinar recording, please contact sustainability@ukft.org.
Not yet a member? Join