LEGI-STANDARDS I: Mapping global sustainable fashion legislation to eco-credentials

The fashion and textiles sector is undergoing a rapid transition as new sustainability-related regulatory requirements emerge across multiple jurisdictions. For many firms, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, the challenge lies not only in understanding these requirements but in operationalizing them in ways that are measurable, verifiable and aligned with evolving expectations around transparency and accountability. At the same time, a growing ecosystem of eco-standards, certifications and digital tools has developed to support compliance, yet these mechanisms remain fragmented and difficult to navigate in practice. This report introduces LEGI-STANDARDS I, a project in a series of studies designed to clarify the relationship between regulatory obligations and the voluntary and technological mechanisms that support their implementation. The research develops a structured mapping approach that connects legislation, eco-credentials and digital solution providers, enabling a more coherent view of the compliance landscape. Through this approach, the project identifies key areas of overlap, misalignment and opportunity across these domains. The findings indicate that many organizations lack confidence in selecting and applying appropriate standards or technologies to meet regulatory expectations. This uncertainty is compounded by inconsistent terminology, limited interoperability between systems and a lack of clear guidance tailored to different business models. In response, the project delivers an integrated framework and an open-access knowledge base to support decision-making and reduce barriers to engagement. By translating complexity into accessible and actionable insights, LEGI-STANDARDS I contributes to improving regulatory readiness, strengthening supply chain transparency and supporting more consistent sustainability communication – in particular for fashion and textiles SMEs. The project also provides a foundation for future work on digital product passports and broader data-driven compliance infrastructures, with relevance for industry stakeholders, policy-makers and researchers engaged in the transition towards more accountable and transparent fashion systems.