Sustainability is no longer a niche trend in fashion—it’s an industry-wide shift driven by consumer demand, regulatory changes, and environmental responsibility. However, many brands struggle with sourcing truly sustainable materials due to a lack of transparency, accessibility, and reliable certification standards.

Building a sustainable material library helps designers and product developers access verified eco-friendly fabrics, trims, and finishes while ensuring compliance with industry standards. It also accelerates research and development (R&D) by providing a structured database of materials that align with sustainability goals.

This guide will walk you through the importance of a sustainable material library, how to source responsible textiles, key certifications to look for, and how digital solutions can optimize material tracking.

What Is a Sustainable Material Library?

A sustainable material library is a curated collection of eco-friendly fabrics, trims, and textile innovations that a fashion brand can reference when developing new products. It includes details like:

• Material composition (e.g., organic cotton, recycled polyester, hemp)

• Certifications (e.g., GOTS, OEKO-TEX, FSC)

• Supplier details (transparency on sourcing and ethical labor practices)

• Environmental impact data (carbon footprint, water consumption)

• End-of-life considerations (biodegradability, recyclability)

  
  

With a structured library, brands can make informed sourcing decisions, reduce waste, and increase efficiency when developing new collections.

Why Building a Sustainable Material Library Matters

1. Supports Sustainable Product Development

By having a pre-vetted selection of eco-friendly textiles, your brand can reduce waste and lower its carbon footprint while ensuring materials align with sustainability goals.

2. Saves Time and Enhances Efficiency

Sourcing sustainable fabrics can be time-consuming. With a material library, designers and product developers can quickly reference approved materials, speeding up the sampling and production process.

3. Ensures Compliance with Certifications and Regulations

As global sustainability regulations tighten (such as the EU's Digital Product Passport and upcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation), maintaining proper certifications and documentation is essential for brand credibility and compliance.

4. Reduces Costly Production Errors

A structured library minimizes last-minute material substitutions and inconsistencies, ensuring quality and sustainability claims remain intact across collections.

How to Build a Sustainable Material Library

Step 1: Define Your Sustainability Criteria

Before sourcing materials, establish clear sustainability standards for your brand. Consider the following factors:

• Raw material origins (organic, regenerative, or recycled sources)

• Water and energy consumption during production

• Chemical impact (avoid toxic dyes and hazardous treatments)

• End-of-life solutions (biodegradable, compostable, recyclable)

• Ethical supply chain practices (fair wages, safe working conditions)

By defining sustainability goals upfront, you can avoid greenwashing and focus on genuine eco-friendly materials.

Step 2: Source and Evaluate Eco-Friendly Materials

Once your criteria are set, start researching and sourcing textiles from certified sustainable suppliers. Consider materials such as:

• Organic Cotton – Grown without pesticides, reducing water and soil contamination.

• Recycled Polyester (rPET) – Diverts plastic waste from landfills and oceans.

• TENCEL™ Lyocell – Produced from wood pulp using a closed-loop system that recycles water and solvents.

• Hemp – A fast-growing, low-impact fiber requiring minimal water and pesticides.

• Piñatex – A leather alternative made from pineapple leaves.

• Econyl® – Regenerated nylon made from ocean plastic and industrial waste.

When evaluating suppliers, request full transparency on sourcing, production, and labor conditions to ensure their claims align with your sustainability standards.

Step 3: Understand Certifications and What They Mean

To verify the authenticity of sustainable materials, look for third-party certifications that guarantee ethical and eco-friendly practices.

Key Certifications to Consider:

| Certification | What It Covers | Best For |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) | Ensures organic fibers, ethical labor, and environmentally friendly processing. | Organic cotton, wool |
| OEKO-TEX Standard 100 | Tests for harmful substances to ensure textiles are safe for human use. | All fabrics |
| FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) | Verifies responsibly sourced wood-based fibers. | TENCEL™, viscose, modal |
| GRS (Global Recycled Standard) | Confirms that materials contain recycled content and meet social and environmental criteria. | Recycled polyester, Econyl® |
| Cradle to Cradle Certified™ | Evaluates sustainability across the product’s entire lifecycle, including recyclability. | Circular economy-focused textiles

Including certification details in your material library ensures that your fabrics meet regulatory requirements and consumer expectations.

Step 4: Digitize Your Material Library for Better Organization

A physical fabric library (swatch books, sample bins) is useful, but a digital material library enhances accessibility and efficiency.

Benefits of Digital Material Libraries:

• Centralized database for easy reference across teams

• Quick filtering by fiber type, supplier, certification, or sustainability impact

• Integration with PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems for streamlined sourcing

• Faster R&D and collection planning

Step 5: Continuously Update and Improve Your Library

Sustainable materials are constantly evolving, so it’s essential to keep your material library updated.

• Regularly audit suppliers for compliance with sustainability standards.

• Stay informed on new fabric innovations and alternatives.

• Collect feedback from designers and manufacturers to refine selections.

How Digital Tools Improve Sustainable Sourcing

1. PLM Systems for Material Tracking

Using PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software like Matter PLM allows brands to:

• Digitally store, track, and manage material data

• Ensure accurate material costing and supply chain transparency

• Automate compliance tracking for sustainability certifications

2. Blockchain for Supply Chain Transparency

Blockchain technology is being used to track and verify the origin and journey of materials, ensuring authenticity and preventing false sustainability claims.

3. AI-Powered Material Recommendations

Some platforms use AI algorithms to recommend more sustainable fabric alternatives based on a brand’s sustainability goals.

Conclusion

Creating a sustainable material library is a crucial step for any fashion brand looking to reduce its environmental footprint and make responsible sourcing decisions. By establishing clear sustainability criteria, sourcing certified materials, leveraging digital tools, and staying informed on industry innovations, your brand can develop high-quality, eco-friendly collections while maintaining compliance and efficiency.

Next Steps:

• Download our sustainable material checklist to start building your library.

• Explore PLM solutions to streamline material sourcing.

• Book a consultation to optimize your brand’s sustainability strategy.