The initiative introduces a “unified methodology” and a no-cost digital platform intended to reduce the administrative burden associated with current fragmented sustainability reporting requirements.
The Retailer Brand Due Diligence Questionnaire, developed collaboratively by Cascale, Fair Wear, ABOUT YOU, Asos, Boozt, Ellos Group, New Look, The Very Group, and Zalando, consolidates multiple HREDD assessment processes into a single self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ).
This removes “fragmented reporting” and ensures that brand partners are assessed using standardised, widely accepted criteria, TrusTrace said in a statement.
The new tool draws on the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector as well as other sector-specific standards.
The questionnaire sets a uniform benchmark for ethical sourcing across the industry, enabling companies to manage diverse reporting requirements and focus resources on key areas within their supply chains.
“The SAQ lays the groundwork for clearer expectations, emphasising the role retailers play in encouraging brands to move toward impactful due diligence and real improvements for workers. Moreover, our organisations have the tools and guidance readily available to help brands advance in their HREDD journey,” Fair Wear executive director Annabel Meurs said.
One Retail Hub, created through a partnership between TrusTrace and the participating retailers, serves as a digital platform to facilitate continuous data exchange related to HREDD compliance.
The system enables ongoing engagement with the due diligence questionnaire instead of requiring businesses to respond to sporadic individual requests from different retailers.
This process introduces predictability into reporting cycles and allows brands to share their responses with multiple retailers and multi-stakeholder initiatives simultaneously.
The platform also offers AI-assisted completion using existing sustainability documentation and reports. It provides real-time results alongside recommendations for remediation and corrective actions based on identified gaps in compliance processes.
The introduction of these tools seeks to improve operational efficiency for companies facing rising requirements around sustainability data and supply chain transparency.
TrusTrace co-founder and CEO Shameek Ghosh said: “One Retail Hub demonstrates what’s possible when industry leaders invest in shared infrastructure rather than proprietary solutions. By building a unified platform for HREDD data exchange, we’re eliminating the duplicative reporting burden that has strained suppliers and brands alike – especially SMEs.
“This is how industries accelerate progress: collaborative systems that transform compliance complexity into strategic clarity. TrusTrace is proud to provide the technology enabling this sector-wide shift toward unified, actionable supply chain intelligence.”
