Fashion and apparel industry stakeholders are being asked to provide feedback on a new eco-labeling program designed to showcase environmental and socially responsible practices to the U.S. marketplace. Labeling Ecologically Approved Fabrics (LEAF) has issued a public review document outlining the program's goals and objectives. Interested parties will have 90 days to comment on the document by completing an online questionnaire.
"The supply chain of one item of apparel can be quite complex, as one particular product can be harvested, manufactured, and packaged in many different places around the globe," says LEAF founder Elinor Averyt. "A growing number of reputable apparel designers and brands are meeting comprehensive environmental and social responsibility standards, but there's often not enough communication about that fact with end users here in the U.S."
LEAF intends to become a trusted, user-friendly clearinghouse where consumers can learn if an apparel product has met various environmental and social standards within its complex life cycle process. The LEAF label may be displayed on hang tags, attached to apparel, incorporated into company marketing campaigns or made available through LEAF's website.
