Making Certification the Universal Language of Sustainable Textiles

Philippe Thomazo deliver a keynote speech at the China seminar "Full Supply Chain Management of Responsible Textiles hosted by GOTS: "Weaving Trust: Making Certification the "Universal Language" of Sustainable Textiles"

On August 26, 2026, during the 2026 China International Textile Fabrics and Accessories (Autumn/Winter) Expo, Philippe Thomazo, CEO of ECOCERT Group, was invited to attend and deliver a keynote speech at the seminar "Full Supply Chain Management of Responsible Textiles," hosted by GOTS.

With global warming now a reality, young European consumers are treating sustainability as a factor equally important to price in their purchasing decisions, and are willing to pay a premium for certified, transparent products. In response, the EU is tightening its regulations across four fronts: product traceability and transparency, cracking down on greenwashing marketing, strengthening corporate sustainability reporting obligations, and advancing the circular economy.

Among these measures, the Empowering Consumers regulation, effective September 2026, takes a hard line against “greenwashing”, with violators facing fines of up to 4% of annual turnover;

The Digital Product Passport, expected to launch in 2027, will require companies to provide full supply-chain traceability information for every product;

And the eco-modulation tax system offers tax reductions for sustainable products while imposing surcharges of up to four times the standard rate on non-compliant ones.

Philippe emphasized that brands which tell a compelling sustainability story will win out in competition and gain premium advantages. As a professional certification body, ECOCERT helps brands, retailers, and companies of all kinds manage supply-chain risks through services such as certification and training, turning compliance obligations into growth opportunities.