North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Sean Casten (D-IL) introduced H.R. 8978, the Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act. The legislation aims to change how consumers learn about the environmental impact of their clothing purchases.

Miami is a global fashion hub and hosts numerous apparel companies making strides in industry sustainability. This bill seeks to help consumers recognize these efforts and leverage market forces to reward them.

“Fashion is not just an important part of Miami’s identity in the world as a global hub, but also contributes millions of dollars to our local economy every year,” said Rep. Salazar. “The Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act builds an information bridge between consumer and producer, encouraging more sustainable clothes shopping to help protect our planet.”

“Consumers are increasingly interested in understanding the climate impacts of their purchasing decisions,” said Rep. Casten. “The bipartisan Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act empowers individuals to make environmentally-conscious decisions with their hard-earned dollars, fostering a more sustainable future for all.”

The legislation will establish a Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Program at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Through this program, retail or apparel producers may apply for certification. If approved, they will be allowed, but not mandated, to add an apparel sustainability label on their products.

The label can contain information on greenhouse gas emissions released during production, manufacturing, and distribution processes. It may also include details on consumer use, end-of-life reuse, and recycling efforts. This initiative aims to help apparel producers showcase their efforts in reducing carbon footprints while providing consumers with more information for sustainable shopping.

Congresswoman Salazar has been an advocate for creating a more sustainable Miami and has sponsored several bills aimed at building necessary climate resiliency infrastructure.

For a summary of the legislation, click here.

For the full text of the legislation, click here.

###