TrusTrace Unveils ESG Data Framework in 4th Industry Playbook

TrusTrace, a global pioneer in supply chain traceability and compliance, has introduced its fourth Industry Playbook titled The Data Advantage – A Practical Guide to Building De-risked, Compliant and Future-Ready Supply Chains. Unveiled at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen, the playbook responds to growing regulatory demands, climate risks, and calls for transparency—issues that have intensified the data burden on suppliers.

At the heart of the publication is the TrusTrace Compliance Canvas™, a practical new framework aimed at helping brands and manufacturers standardize and streamline supply chain data collection. The playbook includes firsthand insights from leading fashion and retail stakeholders such as adidas, Hugo Boss, and Primark, and suppliers like Epic Group, Karacasu Tekstil, and Impetus Group, who outline their experiences in navigating regulatory complexity and environmental accountability.

Cari Atkinson, Head of Product Traceability and Assurance at Primark, noted, “Working with TrusTrace has helped us turn complex data requirements into something more manageable for our teams and suppliers.”

Sigrid Buehrle, SVP of Sustainability and ESG at adidas, shared her long-term goal: “My North Star is to get supply chain-related data to the same robustness as financial data.”

Tércio Pinto, Head of Innovation at Impetus Group, stressed the need for harmonization, saying, “This work is going to create a demand for data… and the lack of harmonisation across countries means we need a taxonomy.”

In addition to these insights, the playbook offers perspectives from Policy Hub, Textile ETP, and the London School of Economics’ Grantham Institute, addressing legal and climate-related risks and advocating for dynamic risk modelling to build resilient supply chains.

Structured into four strategic pillars—Minimum Data Package, Understanding ESG Requirements, Practical Industry Insights, and a Future Risk Briefing—the playbook is a comprehensive guide for businesses seeking proactive, standardized data collaboration in the face of global policy changes.

Brooke Roberts-Islam, the playbook’s author and sustainability journalist, observed: “Despite the vast data burden, what's collected is mostly documentation—not actionable data to address environmental impact.”

Shameek Ghosh, CEO and Co-Founder of TrusTrace, emphasized, “As data becomes the cornerstone of compliance and climate readiness, brands need more than intention—they need infrastructure.”

The publication urges the industry to shift from compliance for compliance’s sake to data-led strategies that drive smarter decisions, transparency, and long-term resilience.

Download the full playbook here.