North Miami-Dade News

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

Miami is a global fashion hub, home to numerous apparel companies making significant strides in industry sustainability. This bill will help consumers recognize and reward these efforts through market forces.

“Fashion is not only an important part of Miami's identity as a global center but also contributes millions of dollars to our local economy each year,” said Representative Salazar. “The ‘Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act’ builds an information bridge between consumer and producer, promoting more sustainable clothing purchases to help protect our planet.”

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

Specifically, this legislation will establish a Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Program within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Through this program, retail or apparel producers can apply for certification. If approved, they may add—but are not required to add—a sustainable apparel label to their products.

The label may 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.

This initiative will help apparel producers showcase their efforts to reduce carbon footprints while providing consumers with more information for making sustainable purchases.

Representative Salazar is an advocate for creating a more sustainable Miami and has sponsored several bills aimed at building necessary climate resilience infrastructure.

For a summary of the legislation, click here.

For the full text of the legislation, click here.

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