Why Traceability Is No Longer Optional in Sourcing Natural Fibers

From Buzzword to Baseline: Why Traceability Is Now a Must in Hemp Fiber Sourcing

In the world of fashion, “traceability” used to be a nice talking point—something reserved for conscious capsule collections or seasonal sustainability reports.

But that’s changing fast.

With major new regulations coming out of the EU, including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), traceability is becoming the new normal. And for brands sourcing natural fibers like hemp, it’s no longer enough to say your materials are sustainable—you have to prove it.

So what’s changing?

The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)

Starting in 2024, this directive required large companies doing business in the EU to:

• Check for environmental and human rights risks across their entire supply chain—not just Tier 1 suppliers.

• Take action when harm is identified.

• Publicly report on their due diligence practices.

Even brands based outside of the EU are affected if they sell into the European market and hit certain revenue thresholds.

What is the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR)?

This regulation introduces Digital Product Passports (DPPs), which will require brands to disclose:

• What materials were used

• How those materials were processed

• Their environmental impact

• End-of-life instructions for the product

The goal is simple: make sustainability visible and verifiable for every product on the European market—and encourage other markets to follow suit.

So What Does This Mean for Hemp?

If you work in sourcing or sustainability, you already know the challenges:

• Visibility often stops at the fabric mill.

• Many hemp supply chains are still emerging or transitional.

• Documentation is inconsistent, and claims are hard to verify.

Without a clear view into your fiber’s origins—who grew it, how it was processed, and whether ethical and environmental safeguards were in place—it becomes tough to meet these new expectations.