Major Retailers Launch Unified Due Diligence Questionnaire and Digital Hub, Powered by TrusTrace

Major fashion retailers have launched a unified self-assessment questionnaire and a free digital platform to support Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) across the apparel and footwear sector. The initiative aims to reduce fragmented reporting systems and create a common framework for assessing due diligence maturity. The tools were developed through collaboration between Cascale, Fair Wear and TrusTrace.

Major retailers have introduced a joint self-assessment questionnaire and digital platform designed to help companies evaluate their Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) systems and identify areas for improvement.

The Retailer Brand Due Diligence Questionnaire and the One Retail Hub platform were launched on February 10, 2026, in Stockholm, Sweden, by TrusTrace in collaboration with seven European-based retailers. The initiative responds to increasing sustainability and supply chain data requirements, which have led to the emergence of multiple overlapping systems and increased administrative demands, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The questionnaire is a simplified HREDD self-assessment tool co-developed by Cascale, Fair Wear and lead retailers ABOUT YOU, ASOS, Boozt, Ellos Group, New Look, The Very Group and Zalando. It consolidates reporting requirements from multiple business partners into a single format, enabling brands to be evaluated against shared and recognised criteria.

Based on the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector and other sector-specific standards, the questionnaire establishes a common baseline for responsible sourcing practices. It is intended to support companies in managing compliance requirements and directing resources toward priority risk areas within supply chains.

“This initiative falls under Cascale’s mission to drive convergence, minimize duplication, and improve efficiency across the industry’s sustainability efforts. We were pleased to provide subject matter expertise and see this as an exciting opportunity for further collaboration,” said Jeremy Lardeau, senior vice president, Higg Index at Cascale.

“Fair Wear is proud to bring our deep expertise in worker-centred due diligence to the development of the SAQ. Working with Cascale in The Industry We Want and the Retailer Round Table, we’ve created a shared, credible starting point for brands and retailers that promotes efficiency and reduces duplication across the sector. The SAQ lays the groundwork for clearer expectations, emphasising the role retailers play in encouraging brands to move toward impactful due diligence and real improvements for workers. Moreover, our organisations have the tools and guidance readily available to help brands advance in their HREDD journey,” said Annabel Meurs, executive director at Fair Wear.

The One Retail Hub platform was developed jointly by TrusTrace and participating retailers to support structured data exchange. It enables brands to complete the questionnaire on an ongoing basis rather than in response to individual requests, helping to introduce greater consistency into reporting processes.

“One Retail Hub demonstrates what's possible when industry leaders invest in shared infrastructure rather than proprietary solutions,” said Shameek Ghosh, co-founder and CEO of TrusTrace. “By building a unified platform for HREDD data exchange, we're eliminating the duplicative reporting burden that has strained suppliers and brands alike – especially SMEs. This is how industries accelerate progress: collaborative systems that transform compliance complexity into strategic clarity. TrusTrace is proud to provide the technology enabling this sector-wide shift toward unified, actionable supply chain intelligence.”

The platform includes AI-assisted completion functions that draw on sustainability reports and existing documentation. It also allows brands to share completed responses with multiple retailers and multi-stakeholder initiatives and provides real-time results with recommendations for remediation and corrective actions.

Further information is available at www.trustrace.com.