A new draft standard released by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is set to reshape how sustainability is reported across the global textile and apparel sector—offering African producers, manufacturers, and retailers a chance to align with international expectations and assert their place in responsible supply chains.
The draft, which is open for public comment until 28 September 2025, is the fifth sector-specific standard developed by GRI. It provides a framework for consistent and comprehensive reporting of environmental, social, and economic impacts across the entire textile value chain. This includes fiber processing, apparel manufacturing, footwear, jewelry, and retail activities.
For Africa, where the textile industry remains a major source of jobs and export revenue, the timing of this draft could not be more relevant. Countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Morocco, and South Africa have been positioning themselves as ethical and cost-competitive alternatives in global sourcing. However, many manufacturers still operate without clear sustainability metrics or formal reporting processes—leaving them vulnerable to scrutiny from international buyers, regulators, and increasingly climate-conscious consumers.
The GRI draft aims to bridge that gap. It outlines reporting expectations on a wide range of issues such as labor rights, workplace safety, chemical use, waste and water management, greenhouse gas emissions, and supply chain traceability. It also emphasizes transparency in due diligence processes and how companies engage with affected stakeholders, including workers and local communities.
Peter Dawkins, a senior sector standards manager at GRI and one of the leads on the draft, noted that the initiative is about more than compliance—it’s about credibility and resilience in a sector under mounting pressure to clean up its footprint. “By enhancing accountability and transparency for their environmental, social, and economic impacts, the new sector standard will help organizations report more effectively,” he said.
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This development is especially important for Africa’s apparel exporters, many of whom supply major Western fashion brands now required to meet stringent ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria. Yet the absence of standardized frameworks has often led to fragmented reporting practices or, worse, no reporting at all. The new GRI sector standard seeks to create a level playing field, where sustainability can be measured and communicated clearly across markets and regions.
African stakeholders; manufacturers, trade associations, labor unions, sustainability consultants, and government bodies—are now being urged to participate in the public comment period. Their feedback will help ensure the final standard reflects the continent’s unique context, including informal labor dynamics, water scarcity, limited infrastructure, and the prevalence of small and medium-sized enterprises in the sector.
The GRI will host two global webinars on 21 July and 15 September 2025 to walk stakeholders through the draft and consultation process. Additional regional sessions are expected, offering a platform for African voices to influence the direction of the standard before its final release, expected in mid-2026.
The standard’s potential to elevate Africa’s role in sustainable fashion is significant. With greater reporting capacity, African textile hubs could attract more ethical investment, deepen partnerships with international brands, and secure better terms in global trade negotiations. Moreover, robust reporting mechanisms can strengthen labor protections and environmental safeguards, benefitting workers and communities across the continent.
Already, a few African manufacturers have adopted digital tools to enhance traceability and compliance, but widespread adoption remains limited by cost, capacity, and technical knowledge. The new standard, if supported with capacity-building, could accelerate adoption of sustainable practices while offering a roadmap for improvement.
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The release of the GRI Textile and Apparel Sector Standard represents more than a technical update to sustainability reporting. It’s a strategic moment for Africa to assert its relevance in a global industry that is redefining its values—and its risks. Participation in the consultation process could help ensure that the realities of African markets are fully considered, and that the region is not just a passive recipient of new standards but an active contributor to shaping them.
As African countries continue to push for fairer and more inclusive climate and trade frameworks, the textile and apparel sector may serve as a testing ground for what sustainable industrial development could look like—one that combines transparency, accountability, and shared prosperity.
The draft is available for public review at www.globalreporting.org
