Textile Exchange published the binding Transition Policy for the Materials Matter Standard (MMS) on 1 April 2026. Officially released in December 2025, the MMS aims to consolidate existing Textile Exchange standards into a single integrated framework and establish a new impact-oriented certification system at the raw material production and primary processing stages. The published transition policy clarifies the conditions under which certified organisations will move to this new system.
Under the policy, the Materials Matter Standard will become effective on 31 December 2026, at which point trained certification bodies will be able to begin MMS certification audits. From 31 December 2027 onwards, the standard will become mandatory; after this date, certificates issued under existing Textile Exchange standards will no longer be renewed. During the transition period, certified organisations may either maintain their current certificates or choose to transition early to the new MMS system.
The first version of the MMS covers materials within the Responsible Animal Fibre framework, such as wool, alpaca, and mohair, as well as recycled materials certified under the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS). Organic cotton will follow a phased transition path, retaining its traceability functions under the existing Organic Content Standard (OCS). The standard incorporates practice-based and outcome-oriented criteria across soil management, animal welfare, human rights, and water, chemical, energy, and emissions management in primary processing.
For certified organisations, this transition process requires reviewing existing systems and processes, establishing early coordination with certification bodies, and planning internal preparation for the new requirements. Stakeholders across all stages of the supply chain need to act in line with the transition timeline to maintain certification continuity. USB Certification continues to provide technical guidance to certified organisations during the transition and to prepare its audit capacity in line with this new era.
