Circular provided technical and scientific support to Hugo Boss and Stichting Raddis in the development and implementation of the Social Product Declaration (SPD) and the Social Product Declaration Product Category Rules (SPD-PCR) for cotton-based products, with the aim of advancing social sustainability within the sector.
The project applies the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) methodology, following the guidelines established by ISO 14075:2024 and the UNEP 2020 framework, while using the SPD scheme for the communication of social impacts.
A central component of the project is the collection of primary data to assess the social impacts of cotton products throughout their entire life cycle, through the design and application of tailored questionnaires.
The analytical framework integrates established methodologies, combining Type I scales for general impact assessments with Type II impact pathway methodologies for specific categories, including working conditions and living wages. The interpretation of the results is aligned with the project’s objectives, enabling the identification of strengths, limitations and opportunities for further improvement.
The project also includes the development of Product Category Rules (PCRs) for the social dimension, complementing existing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and enabling an integrated assessment of both the social and environmental dimensions of sustainability.
The final output consists of a standardised report compliant with ISO 14075 and the SPD-PCRs developed during the project. By systematically addressing the social challenges embedded within the cotton supply chain, the project represents a significant step towards greater transparency and accountability in global textile production, supporting a better understanding of the key measures needed to promote more sustainable purchasing practices throughout the sector.
