The new model aims to turn sustainability ambition into measurable progress across the textile value chain.
Textile Exchange, the global non-profit with more than 700 member organisations, is restructuring its membership model in an effort to drive faster, more coordinated action on climate and nature across the textile industry.
The new framework introduces two categories
The Community Cohort will include organisations not directly involved in sourcing or producing raw materials — such as academics, NGOs, consultancies and solutions providers. They will benefit from knowledge-sharing, events and expert-developed tools, mirroring the current membership offering.
The Action Cohort targets brands, suppliers and producers with direct influence over fibre and material sourcing. Members will follow structured action pathways, adopt unified reporting frameworks and participate in collective initiatives designed to overcome systemic barriers in production systems. Progress reporting and adherence to best-practice systems will be mandatory.
Textile Exchange argues that the split allows for clearer roles, more targeted guidance and stronger accountability. By distinguishing knowledge-oriented participants from those able to act on the ground, the non-profit hopes to shift the industry from fragmented commitments to coordinated implementation.
The structure also responds to rising expectations from regulators and investors, who increasingly demand verifiable progress on climate, biodiversity and supply-chain impacts.
The model aligns with Textile Exchange’s 2030 strategy, which emphasises reducing climate impact, restoring ecosystems and improving land management across global fibre systems.
As senior director Sarah Needham noted, the new approach aims to help the industry “align behind shared priorities and make measurable change” — signalling a more disciplined era for textile sustainability.
