A new tool called the Global Impact Score is aiming to revolutionize how fashion brands measure their environmental footprint. Designed to evaluate the full ecological impact of any given product, the tool analyzes 16 distinct environmental indicators, including climate change, water resource depletion, land use, fine particle emissions, and more. Once evaluated, the tool generates a single, comprehensive score that Glimpact, the company behind the initiative, describes as “a sort of environmental price.”
This score allows fashion companies to assess and adjust their sourcing, production methods, and overall supply chain practices. With it, brands can make data-driven decisions to accelerate their transition toward more sustainable practices in line with global ecological goals.
Notably, the Global Impact Score also serves as a valuable compliance tool for fashion brands based in the U.S., helping them meet international sustainability regulations—especially the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Adopted formally last year, ESPR includes rigorous environmental criteria covering product durability, ease of repair and reuse, and environmental footprint. It also mandates that products carry a digital product passport, detailing how they were made and guiding consumers on sustainable usage and disposal.
“Our goal with the Global Impact Score is to make the EU’s Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method accessible to all stakeholders in the fashion and apparel industry, especially in the U.S., where awareness of ESPR is still growing,” said Glimpact CEO Christophe Girardier in a statement to ESG Dive.
Girardier added, “ESPR and similar regulations represent a groundbreaking step forward in global sustainability. By using a shared scientific standard like the PEF model, we can eliminate greenwashing and ensure that environmental impact becomes as measurable and transparent as any other product metric.”
The push comes at a critical time. Just last month, the European Commission rolled out its five-year implementation plan for the ESPR legislation. The plan places particular focus on the textile industry, setting out specific design and labeling requirements for garments. These include minimum standards for durability and the use of recycled materials, as well as the mandatory introduction of digital product passports.
Importantly, these requirements will apply to all clothing products sold in the EU market by 2027—regardless of their country of origin or the size of the manufacturer. The move underscores the EU’s commitment to climate action and consumer transparency, and signals a growing trend of global environmental accountability.
As sustainability regulations tighten worldwide, tools like the Global Impact Score may become essential for fashion brands looking to future-proof their business models. By combining scientific rigor with accessible design, the tool offers a practical pathway for aligning with evolving expectations and building real environmental value into the core of fashion production.
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