The EU Green Deal introduces a wave of regulations such as CSRD, ESPR, Digital Product Passports (DPP), and CSDDD. To stay future-proof, brands need to act now.
Here’s a practical roadmap to guide your next steps:
Assess your current state
Map your full supply chain. This doesn't just mean Tier 1, but the deeper tiers as well.
Assess what you already know about your environmental footprint, social practices, and governance. You can learn more about our ESG self-survey and ESG dashboard to help collect this data.
Identify where the gaps are. It is important to focus on areas like material sourcing, working conditions, and emissions data.
Define your priorities
Apply double materiality: Which issues affect your business, and where does your business have the greatest impact?
Focus on the areas most relevant to your products, operations, and value chain partners.
Translate these priorities into clear sustainability goals.
Organize responsibilities
Assign clear roles inside your company: who collects data, who verifies it, who reports it.
Train teams and suppliers so everyone understands what’s needed. You can even invite your colleagues from different teams to tex.tracer to help divide the tasks.
Utilize reports to simplify on-going data collection so you focus on creating lasting processes and not just one-off reporting.
Implement traceability efforts
Collect primary-source and verified data from across your value chain. Learn how to take advantage of order evidence in tex.tracer for an extra layer of verification.
Start preparing Digital Product Passports (DPPs), as they will become mandatory under ESPR.
Ensure you can track and trace materials, processes, and certifications at every stage.
Prepare for verification
Keep documentation ready: contracts, certifications, audits, and supplier agreements (such as Code of Conduct or a RSL.)
Use reliable, verifiable sources such as geolocation data, time stamps, peer reviews to back up your claims.
Build a strong audit trail to increase trust and credibility.
Set measurable targets and track progress
Define clear targets (carbon reduction, water use, chemical phase-outs, living wages, etc.).
Monitor progress annually and share it transparently with stakeholders.
Always be ready to adjust as continuous improvement is key.
Stay ahead of evolving regulations
Regulations like CSRD, ESPR, CSDDD, and EUDR will keep evolving so keeping up with EU updates, industry standards, and tex.tracer guidance is key.
Use verified insights to adapt quickly so compliance becomes an opportunity and not a burden.