Salazar and Casten Introduce Legislation to Bolster Sustainable Apparel Industry

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Sean Casten (D-IL) introduced H.R. 8978, the Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act. The legislation will revolutionize the way consumers learn about the environmental impact of the clothes they purchase.

Miami is a global fashion hub and is home to numerous apparel companies that are making important strides in industry sustainability. This bill will help consumers recognize those efforts and reward them with the power of market forces.

“Fashion is not just an important part of Miami’s identity in the world as a global hub, but also contributes millions of dollars to our local economy every year,” said Rep. Salazar. “The Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act builds an information bridge between consumer and producer, encouraging more sustainable clothes shopping to help protect our planet.”

“Consumers are increasingly interested in understanding the climate impacts of their purchasing decisions,” said Rep. Casten. “The bipartisan Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act empowers individuals to make environmentally-conscious decisions with their hard-earned dollars, fostering a more sustainable future for all.”

Specifically, this legislation will establish a Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Program at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Through this program, retail or apparel producers may apply for this certification. If approved, they will be allowed, but not mandated, to add an apparel sustainability label on their products.

The Label can contain information on the greenhouse gas emissions released during the production, manufacturing, and distribution process. It may also include information on consumer use, end-of-life reuse, and recycling. This will help apparel producers showcase the work they’ve done to reduce their carbon footprint while empowering consumers with more information to shop more sustainably.

Congresswoman Salazar is an advocate for creating a more sustainable Miami. She has sponsored several bills to build necessary climate resiliency infrastructure.

For a summary of the legislation, click here.

For the full text of the legislation, click here.

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