The suite of resources is designed to help companies better understand and implement the standard’s requirements on human rights and livelihoods, as the industry prepares for heightened expectations on people-focused sustainability.
The Materials Matter Standard introduces mandatory criteria for human and labour rights protections throughout raw material production and processing facilities.
According to Textile Exchange, the new standard aims to establish people-centred sustainability as a core expectation across supply chains, seeking to ensure that certified materials are produced with greater respect for human wellbeing.
Key to this transition are three new resources published by Textile Exchange.
The Human Rights and Livelihoods Quick Guide introduces the human rights requirements featured in the Materials Matter Standard, outlining core themes and offering an overview of how organisations can begin implementing them.
The Human Rights Risk Assessment Tool is intended to help companies systematically identify, prioritise, and address human rights risks within their operations and supply chains.
In addition, the Human Rights Commitment & Code of Conduct Template provides a framework for organisations to formally commit to upholding human rights principles and to establish a code of conduct as they transition to the new requirements.
Textile Exchange stated that these tools are designed to convert the standard’s expectations into concrete actions, supporting companies in addressing issues such as fair working conditions, appropriate compensation and benefits, and safeguards against excessive working hours or overtime.
The resources also emphasise the need to identify and support people in vulnerable or high-risk positions within supply chains.
Textile Exchange Human Rights and Social Responsibility lead Siobhan Cullen said: “Stronger human rights and livelihoods practices are central to meaningful sustainability progress and resilient supply systems.
“The Materials Matter Standard sets a holistic set of requirements incorporating respect for human rights, with the new guidance and tools released today supporting organisations in putting those requirements into practice. By transitioning to the Materials Matter Standard, organisations can play a key role in embedding greater social responsibility across the textile supply system and support a fairer and safer industry for the people and communities that depend on it.”
Textile Exchange noted that the approach to due diligence required under the new standard is intended to be “practical and achievable” for organisations of different sizes and contexts.
The approach draws on guidance from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on responsible business conduct and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, assisting organisations to concentrate on carrying out due diligence.
This system is expected to help companies allocate efforts according to their resources and risk profiles, while ensuring a baseline of accountability for respecting human rights across the industry.
With the Materials Matter Standard, Textile Exchange is bringing together its previous suite of material standards into a single unified framework.
The new standard will apply consistent criteria across the fashion and textiles sector, touching on not only human rights, but also climate, nature, and animal welfare considerations.
The Human Rights and Livelihoods Quick Guide, Human Rights Risk Assessment Tool, and Human Rights Commitment & Code of Conduct Template were published on 1 September 2026.
The Materials Matter Standard will become effective on 31 December 2026, with all audits required to be conducted under the new framework from 31 December 2027.
