Sustainable sourcing
Sustainability claims backed by evidence, not a supplier's word.
A product does not become compliant because a supplier says it is “recycled”, “eco”, “organic”, “sustainable” or “responsibly sourced”. Those claims need supply-chain controls, product evidence, certification, testing and marketing discipline.
Make the claim only if the evidence can stand behind it.
The rules are tightening on both sides of the Channel.
In the UK the risk is in the wording of the claim. In the EU it is also in the data behind the product.
UK position
Claims must not mislead.
The Advertising Standards Authority says environmental claims must be clear, and broad or unqualified claims can mislead if they leave out important information. The CMA Green Claims Code requires claims to be accurate and capable of being substantiated.
A UK business can create a compliance problem even when the product itself is legal to sell: the problem may be the way it is described, marketed, labelled or sold.
EU position
The Digital Product Passport is coming.
The EU Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation entered into force in July 2024 and sets the framework for Digital Product Passports across product categories. Textiles are widely expected to be among the earlier categories affected.
Even if the UK does not mirror the same rules straight away, a UK supplier distributing into Europe still has to meet EU requirements.
Strict-gated claims
No evidence, no claim on the page.
A sustainability claim is shown on Viaty only after the evidence behind it has been uploaded and approved. That protects the factory making the claim and the buyer repeating it to their own customers.
The evidence needed depends on the level of claim, from none at all for a standard product to a full traceability dataset for the Digital Product Passport.
Four sustainability levels
Choose the level that fits your order and market.
Each level asks for more evidence and carries less risk of greenwashing. The right one depends on order size, market and how the product will be sold.
Level 1
Standard compliant product
No sustainability claim. Often the safest and most commercially sensible route for small orders, price-sensitive campaigns, fast turnarounds and inexperienced buyers.
Best for
- Low-volume orders
- Price-sensitive campaigns
- Short lead times
- First-time buyers
- Products where traceability is weak
- Evidence required
- Normal product safety and import documentation. No enhanced claim made.
- Greenwashing risk
- Low — no claim to defend.
Level 2
Specific material claim
"Made with 50% recycled polyester" or "Outer shell contains 60% recycled material." A narrow, evidence-backed claim with supplier declarations and ideally recognised certification.
Best for
- Medium-volume orders
- Buyers needing a clearer environmental message
- Products where the material route is well established
- Evidence required
- Supplier declarations, material declarations, basic chain-of-custody documentation.
- Greenwashing risk
- Medium — claim must be specific and accurately worded. CMA Green Claims Code applies.
Level 3
Certified sustainable product
The product is supported by recognised certification and chain of custody. Example: "GRS-certified recycled polyester product, supported by transaction certificate."
Best for
- Larger orders
- Corporate buyers
- European distribution
- Brands with ESG requirements
- Tenders requiring evidence
- Evidence required
- GRS / GOTS / FSC / RCS / OEKO-TEX certification + transaction certificate + chain of custody at finishing.
- Greenwashing risk
- Lower — claim is auditable and certifications can be verified independently.
Level 4
DPP-ready / full traceability
Sourced with a deeper data structure that supports the EU Digital Product Passport — material origin, supplier mapping, component-level data, repairability, recyclability and end-of-life guidance.
Best for
- EU market access
- Large brands
- Regulated categories (textiles first)
- Long-term product programmes
- Premium positioning
- Evidence required
- Full traceability dataset, supplier map, component composition, end-of-life guidance, environmental data.
- Greenwashing risk
- Lowest claim risk, highest data burden on the supplier.
Wording matters
The more specific the claim, the easier it is to evidence.
The broader the claim, the greater the risk. Here is how to tighten common phrases under the CMA Green Claims Code.
Risky
Better
Risky
"Eco-friendly T-shirt"
Better
"T-shirt made with 50% certified recycled polyester, certification available on request."
Risky
"Sustainable bag"
Better
"Bag made from GRS-certified recycled polyester, subject to verified chain of custody."
Risky
"Green packaging"
Better
"FSC-certified paper packaging" or "Packaging contains 80% recycled paper."
Risky
"Made from recycled materials"
Better
"Outer shell contains 60% recycled polyester. Components such as zip, thread and labels are not included."
Because they are legally risky if unsupported. The UK Advertising Standards Authority and Competition and Markets Authority both enforce against misleading environmental claims under the Green Claims Code. By requiring uploaded, admin-approved evidence before a claim is displayed, we protect both the seller and the buyer.
Level 1 — none (no claim). Level 2 — supplier declarations and material evidence. Level 3 — recognised certification (GRS, GOTS, FSC, RCS, OEKO-TEX) plus a transaction certificate that links the certified material to your actual order. Level 4 — full traceability dataset with material origin, supplier map and end-of-life data.
If you sell only into the UK, DPP is not currently required, but UK regulation tends to follow EU rules with a lag. If you distribute into the EU — even via a UK retailer — you may need DPP-ready data for affected categories. Textiles are expected to be among the first regulated categories.
Yes, at Level 1 or sometimes Level 2. Levels 3 and 4 typically require larger orders to cover the cost of certification, transaction certificates and supplier data work. We help you decide whether the claim is commercially viable for the order size.
A factory statement is not evidence. We check the source of the recycled material, the certification (if any), the chain of custody from material to finished product, and whether the certificate applies to your specific transaction — not just to the factory in general.
Sustainable sourcing should not be a slogan.
It should be a controlled sourcing process. Talk to us about which level fits your product, order size and target market.