Tool in focus: GFA Policy Matrix Asia

After successful editions for the EU and America, the non-profit organization Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) has published its GFA Policy Matrix: Asia. The resource is intended to reflect legislation on sustainability and social issues in the region’s fashion industry. It focuses on eight important manufacturing countries: Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey and Vietnam.

Since information on policies and laws is often scattered, the new GFA Policy Matrix Asia aims to provide an accessible overview of policy developments in this area. In the future, it is planned to expand the scope to include other countries.

“The launch of the GFA Policy Matrix Asia is an important step in strengthening our strategic work across the region. As we implement the Circular Fashion Partnerships on the ground, we gain critical insights into what makes circular systems successful. This resource complements this experience by mapping textile-related sustainability policies in key production regions of Asia where legislation is rapidly evolving,” GFA CEO Federica Marchionni commented in a statement.

Structure of the GFA Policy Matrix Asia

The Policy Matrix is ​​based on the five key priorities of the Fashion CEO Agenda: respectful and safe working environments, better wage systems, responsible use of resources, intelligent material selection and circular systems. Under each priority, the structure is based on the status of the political initiatives. First, the measures that have already been adopted and come into force are mentioned. This is followed by ongoing initiatives, those under review, non-political and upcoming initiatives.

Each entry on a specific policy is accompanied by a summary of the main objectives and provisions. It also lists key policymakers and stakeholders where available. This highlights the actors involved in the development and provides insights into the key shapers of the regulatory landscape. A clearly visible status field provides information at a glance about the status, updates and changes.

An additional information section lists relevant resources. This includes links to manuals and other useful information, including stakeholder positions, media and other reports.

What do the five key areas include?

Respectful and safe work environments

Knowing where to look for a particular topic is often half the job. Therefore, it is helpful to have an overview of the main themes of each priority, although some may overlap. For example, the section on respectful and safe working environments touches on topics such as: duty of care, occupational risks, working conditions, employee health and safety, sick pay, hazardous chemicals, discrimination, human rights violations, forced labor and slavery, human trafficking, grievance mechanisms, female workforce, gender equality, gender-based violence, financial inclusion, financial empowerment, job security, social protection, impact of Covid-19 on workers, supply chain visibility, transparency and purchasing practices.

In this area, the matrix highlights a transition to modernized labor laws and mandatory due diligence. Notable innovations include India’s new Labor Code (2025), which brings together 29 fragmented laws to improve worker protections. Indonesia’s upcoming mandatory human rights due diligence law is also worth mentioning here.

Better wage systems

The section on better wage systems covers topics such as: due diligence, fair wage systems, payment systems, minimum wage, living wage, transparent wage data, purchasing practices, wage setting, collective bargaining, unions, wage theft, grievance mechanisms, wage protection systems, labor protection, social protection systems, enforceable brand agreements, informal economy, subcontracting, slavery and human trafficking.

Wage protection is strengthened by a legal framework. Examples include Cambodia’s 2018 Minimum Wage Law, which sets new rates for the garment sector effective January 2025, and India’s 2019 Wage Code.

Responsible use of resources

The section on responsible use of resources covers topics such as: water, water availability, water stress, water scarcity, energy, fossil fuel consumption, carbon taxation, energy transition, renewable energy, science-based targets, chemical use, chemical pollution, hazardous chemicals – in textile and leather processing/dyeing processes, biodiversity, use of natural resources, extraction of virgin materials, land restoration, sustainable land management, regenerative agriculture, deforestation, land use, Transparency, recovery of waste streams and traceability tools.

The section focuses on decoupling value creation from environmental degradation. This will be achieved through stricter pollution controls and climate commitments. The report documents important legislative measures. These include Indonesia’s Regulation No. 12 (2025) on wastewater standards and Turkey’s first comprehensive climate law (2025), which establishes a national emissions trading system. In addition, several countries, including Bangladesh, Pakistan and China, have submitted updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) for 2025. These are intended to accelerate overall economic decarbonization.

Intelligent material selection

Smart material selection is also an important priority and covers topics such as: fiber cultivation and harvesting, monocultures, regenerative agriculture, natural fibers, biodegradable materials, organic production, land use, soil health, chemical use, synthetic fibers, fossil-based fibers, microfibers, microplastics, recycled materials, biomaterials, animal welfare and the fur trade.

It emphasizes responsible sourcing and consumer safety through technical standards and labeling. Recent developments include Turkey’s 2025 labeling requirements for components of animal origin, as well as India’s upcoming mandatory labeling requirements for clothing, which require full disclosure of fiber composition. These initiatives are intended to prevent misleading information. They should also adapt regional production to global sustainability and transparency standards, such as the digital product passport.

Circulatory systems

Last but not least, the section on circular systems deals with topics such as: textile recycling, textile reuse, linear system, product life cycle, durability, recyclability, monomateriality, circular systems, circular business models, product dismantling, post-consumer textiles, material flows, upcycling, excess stocks, remaining stocks, textile sorting, extended producer responsibility (EPR), waste transfer and scaling of technologies.

In this section, the report tracks the shift from linear to closed-loop models. In these, waste is avoided and materials are continuously kept in circulation. Key policy measures include China’s “Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the Recycling of Waste Textiles” (2022) and Vietnam’s National Circular Economy Action Plan (2025). These frameworks prioritize the integration of informal waste sectors into the formal economy. They also promote the “4Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) to manage industrial textile waste.

Finally, the matrix identifies several upcoming initiatives that will shape the industry through 2027 and beyond. These include India’s Tex-Eco Initiative and the National Fiber Scheme (2026-2031), which focus on green markets and self-sufficiency in raw materials. This also includes Cambodia’s first special law on occupational safety and health protection. By bringing together these different policy developments, the GFA provides guidance for interest groups. It helps navigate rapid regulatory changes in Asia’s influential textile and apparel production centers.

Conclusion

Given the rise of textile-specific policies in the region, targeted sustainability regulations and circular economy initiatives, the GFA Policy Matrix Asia is a useful tool. It is intended to help industry players navigate a rapidly evolving political landscape. This is particularly true as textiles are increasingly recognized as a strategic sector for social and environmental change.