The second volume of UKFT’s Sustainability 101 series focuses on nature, covering environmental data, biodiversity, regenerative farming and related operational topics. The aim is to help UK fashion and textile businesses understand and manage environmental impact in response to changing regulation, supply chain expectations and business risk.

This focus reflects feedback from our 2025 Sustainability Survey, which confirmed continued use of the Sustainability 101 series across our membership. More than half of respondents told us they actively use the resources, and 76% identify our organisation as their main source of sustainability guidance. Members also highlighted the need for more practical support on environmental topics.

Since the previous survey, businesses report a clear increase in environmental requirements across operations and supply chains. Many companies are now collecting environmental data, working with recognised standards and formalising sustainability strategies. However, gaps remain in areas such as environmental due diligence, traceability, data management and regulatory preparation.

These challenges are linked to incoming regulation. Measures including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and emerging UK sustainability reporting requirements will affect businesses directly or through customer and supplier relationships. While confidence is improving, more than half of surveyed businesses still identify environmental due diligence as an area where additional guidance is needed.

Member enquiries also show growing demand for support on nature-related issues, environmental data and compliance. Many organisations report limited internal capacity and specialist expertise, alongside increasing pressure on sustainability teams.

At the same time, sustainability is becoming more closely linked to business decision-making. Environmental data is informing choices around materials, sourcing and production processes. Innovation is widely recognised as important, but businesses often manage compliance and innovation separately, creating duplication and inefficiency.

Sustainability 101 Volume 2 responds by bringing these areas together. The programme focuses on how environmental data, standards and operational practices can support compliance while improving risk management and enabling product and process development. The intention is to help businesses integrate sustainability into existing decision-making rather than treating it as an additional workstream.

The series also introduces practical, place-based learning in response to member demand. Alongside digital guidance and webinars, participants will have opportunities to visit regenerative farms, review biodiversity approaches in practice and see how environmental initiatives operate within commercial settings. These visits are designed to support implementation by linking guidance to real operating models.

By combining structured resources with applied learning, UKFT’s Sustainability 101 Volume 2 supports businesses at different stages of progress. The focus is on practical understanding, regulatory readiness and operational application as nature-related issues become increasingly relevant to the fashion and textile sector.

The Sustainability 101 guides are for members only. Not yet a member?

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