A group of retailers, including Asos and New Look, have launched a unified questionnaire and digital tool, powered by supply chain traceability tech company TrusTrace, to measure the eco and human rights due diligence maturity of fashion brands.
Co-developed by Cascale (formerly the Sustainable Apparel Coalition) and Fair Wear (a non-profit aimed at improving working conditions in garment factories) in association with the other European businesses, the ‘Retailer Brand Due Diligence Questionnaire and One Retail Hub’ is a digital platform specifically aiming to streamline compliance on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) for the apparel and footwear sector.
It comes to market as sustainability and supply chain data demands on fashion companies intensify, with a raft of new legislation – including the digital product passport (DPP) mandate – appearing on the horizon. DPP regulation, specifically, is expected to be introduced in 2027, to help customers better understand the provenance of the garments they purchase, but for it to work optimally it needs retailers to have a clear understanding of their supply chains.
TrusTrace said a fragmented landscape of initiatives and systems has emerged to help the fashion industry deal with HREDD, arguing it has created a significant administrative burden, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Retailer Brand Due Diligence Questionnaire is described as a simplified HREDD self-assessment questionnaire and has been co-developed by participating retailers and aims to ensure brand partners are measured against “fair, universally recognised criteria”. It is informed by OECD’s ‘Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector’ and other sector-specific standards.
Shameek Ghosh, co-founder & CEO of TrusTrace, remarked: “One Retail Hub demonstrates what’s possible when industry leaders invest in shared infrastructure rather than proprietary solutions.
“By building a unified platform for HREDD data exchange, we’re eliminating the duplicative reporting burden that has strained suppliers and brands alike – especially SMEs. This is how industries accelerate progress: collaborative systems that transform compliance complexity into strategic clarity.”
Jeremy Lardeau, senior vice president of Higg Index at Cascale, said: “This initiative falls under Cascale’s mission to drive convergence, minimise duplication, and improve efficiency across the industry’s sustainability efforts.
“We were pleased to provide subject matter expertise and see this as an exciting opportunity for further collaboration.”
Annabel Meurs, executive director at Fair Wear, noted: “We’ve created a shared, credible starting point for brands and retailers that promotes efficiency and reduces duplication across the sector.
“The self-assessment questionnaire lays the groundwork for clearer expectations, emphasising the role retailers play in encouraging brands to move toward impactful due diligence and real improvements for workers. Moreover, our organisations have the tools and guidance readily available to help brands advance in their HREDD journey.”
TrusTrace said the platform streamlines risk assessment and decision-making by offering artificial intelligence-assisted completion – utilising sustainability reports and existing documentation. It allows brands to share responses with multiple retailers instantly.
The full list of businesses and industry organisations involved in the initiative are, as follows: Cascale, Fair Wear, ABOUT YOU, Asos, Boozt, Ellos Group, New Look, Varner, The Very Group, and Zalando.
Read more about TrusTrace’s partnership with Asos, which was initiated in April 2025.
[image credits: TrusTrace]
