Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act
The Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a voluntary labeling program for apparel. The program would allow companies to submit garments (or their packaging) to receive an “apparel sustainability label” that presents a numerical, life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions summary for the product. The life-cycle includes stages from the growing of raw materials through manufacturing, transport, use (including washing and ironing), and end-of-life. A QR code at the point of sale would link to detailed information and the program’s database. Data on the label would be split into two parts: information reported by the manufacturer and information estimated by the EPA based on typical use. The program would be voluntary—there is no mandate to reduce emissions—and would be designed with input from the Agriculture Department and the Federal Trade Commission. Regulations would be finalized within two years, and various supporting components (verification standards, an advisory panel, a certification program, a consumer-outreach plan, and a public database) would be established. The act also lays out penalties for fraudulent use of the label and requires periodic evaluation and potential revisions of the program beginning seven years after enactment and every five years thereafter. Key technical terms: - Life-cycle assessment: evaluating environmental impacts of a product from raw materials to end of life. - GHG emissions: the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.
Key Points
- 1Establishment and governance: EPA must create a voluntary labeling program, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and the FTC, with final regulations due within two years of enactment.
- 2Label content and data access: participating garments receive an apparel sustainability label showing a numerical life-cycle GHG emissions summary, plus a QR code linking to full data, the program’s database, and related information; the label may distinguish data reported by the manufacturer from EPA-estimated data.
- 3Verification and standards: the EPA must set uniform verification standards using the best available science, align with international carbon accounting standards (ISO 14040/14044 and GHG Protocol), designate who can measure and verify data, and certify entities to perform verification; an expert advisory panel (apparel industry stakeholders) will advise on requirements.
- 4Voluntary commitments: the program may include voluntary commitments by participants to reduce life-cycle GHG emissions and to publicly share sustainability information; participation in these commitments is encouraged but not mandated.
- 5Oversight, database, and consumer outreach: the EPA must create a public database within two years; launch a consumer-outreach program within three years; and begin periodic evaluation and reporting on the program’s effectiveness (every seven years, then every five years) with possible amendments; penalties for fraudulent use are specified.