I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8978 
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to estab-
lish a voluntary sustainable apparel labeling program, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2024 
Mr. CASTEN (for himself and Ms. SALAZAR) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
Agency to establish a voluntary sustainable apparel label-
ing program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Voluntary Sustainable 
Apparel Labeling Act’’. 
SEC. 2. VOLUNTARY SUSTAINABLE APPAREL LABELING 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:31 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8978.IH
H8978
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of 
the Environmental Protection Agency (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘‘Administrator’’) shall carry 
out a voluntary sustainable apparel labeling program 
(in this section referred to as the ‘‘labeling pro-
gram’’). 
(2) CONSULTATION.—The Administrator shall 
establish and operate the labeling program in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
Federal Trade Commission. 
(3) REGULATIONS.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this section, the Ad-
ministrator shall finalize regulations to carry out the 
labeling program. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Under the labeling program— 
(1) any person that sells an article of apparel 
may submit an application to the Administrator to 
enter the article of apparel into the labeling pro-
gram; 
(2) the Administrator shall specify the informa-
tion to be included in an application under para-
graph (1); 
(3) the Administrator shall review any applica-
tion submitted under paragraph (1) and make a de-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:31 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8978.IH
H8978
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
most useful to the consumer at the point of sale 
in making apparel purchasing decisions; 
(B) not convey that any given article of ap-
parel is acceptable or unacceptable, but instead 
provide the consumer a numerical quantifica-
tion of the information described in paragraph 
(6); 
(C) employ words, numbers, and imagery, 
as specified by the Administrator; 
(D) convey the fact that the information 
on the apparel sustainability label has been 
verified under requirements established by the 
Environmental Protection Agency; and 
(E) include a logo to help the consumer 
identify the label as being associated with the 
labeling program; 
(6) the information included on the apparel sus-
tainability label shall— 
(A) convey a numerical summary of the 
best available information regarding the total 
greenhouse gas emissions released throughout 
the full life cycle of the participating article of 
apparel and its input materials, including in as-
sociation with— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:31 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8978.IH
H8978
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(i) growing of plant fibers and other 
agricultural inputs; 
(ii) 
manufacture 
of 
the 
non-
agricultural input materials; 
(iii) manufacture of the participating 
article of apparel; 
(iv) packaging; 
(v) transportation of the input mate-
rials and the participating article of ap-
parel; 
(vi) storage; 
(vii) presentation in a retail apparel 
establishment; 
(viii) consumer use, including the en-
ergy used to— 
(I) wash the participating article 
of apparel; and 
(II) prepare the participating ar-
ticle of apparel for use, including by 
ironing or pressing; 
(ix) end-of-life reuse, recycling, treat-
ment, and disposal of the participating ar-
ticle of apparel and its packaging; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:31 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8978.IH
H8978
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(x) any other aspect of the full life 
cycle of the participating article of apparel 
associated with greenhouse gas emissions; 
(B) convey a summary of the voluntary 
commitment made regarding the participating 
article of apparel, as reported under subsection 
(c)(1); and 
(C) provide electronic access immediately 
available to the consumer at the point of sale 
through a quick response (QR) code or similar 
mechanism to additional information relevant to 
the consumer, which shall include— 
(i) the complete information described 
in subparagraph (A) regarding the partici-
pating article of apparel; 
(ii) the complete information provided 
under subsection (c)(1) regarding the par-
ticipating article of apparel; 
(iii) the database established under 
subsection (d); and 
(iv) such other information as the Ad-
ministrator determines to be relevant to 
the consumer; 
(7) if the participant is the manufacturer of the 
participating article of apparel, and not the retail es-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:31 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8978.IH
H8978
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
tablishment selling the participating article of ap-
parel to the end consumer, this fact shall be made 
clear on the apparel sustainability label; 
(8) if requested by a participant, the informa-
tion pertaining to the participating article of apparel 
that is conveyed under paragraph (6)(A) shall be di-
vided into— 
(A) information identified under clauses (i) 
through (v) of paragraph (6)(A), for which the 
participant shall be responsible for reporting; 
and 
(B) information identified under clauses 
(vi) through (ix) of paragraph (6)(A), for which 
the Administrator shall be responsible for esti-
mating on the basis of the typical use of the 
participating article of apparel; 
(9) the distinction between the sources of infor-
mation referred to in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of 
paragraph (8) shall be made clear on the apparel 
sustainability label; 
(10) no information or imagery shall be in-
cluded on the apparel sustainability label that has 
not been specified by the Administrator pursuant to 
paragraphs (5) and (6); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:31 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8978.IH
H8978
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(11) the Administrator shall establish the meth-
od by which the information included on the apparel 
sustainability 
label 
shall 
be 
verified, 
which 
verification shall— 
(A) be conducted in accordance with uni-
form standards for the collection and analysis 
of the information for all participating articles 
of apparel; 
(B) require the use of the best available 
scientific information; 
(C) specify the requirements for entities to 
be authorized to measure, monitor, verify, and 
report the information; 
(D) be informed by the established inter-
national standards for carbon accounting for 
product life cycle assessment, including— 
(i) the ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 
standards of the International Organiza-
tion for Standardization; and 
(ii) protocols established under the 
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol program 
of the World Business Council for Sustain-
able Development and the World Resources 
Institute, including— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:31 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8978.IH
H8978
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
(I) the GHG Protocol for Prod-
uct Accounting and Reporting; and 
(II) Publicly Available Specifica-
tion 2050; and 
(E) be informed by and generally align 
with the current best practices for validating 
such information in the apparel industry; 
(12) in establishing the requirements described 
in paragraphs (5), (6), and (10), the Adminis-
trator— 
(A) shall consult with an expert advisory 
panel composed of apparel industry stake-
holders; and 
(B) may consult with such panel either— 
(i) by establishing a Federal advisory 
committee under chapter 10 of part I of 
title 5, United States Code (commonly re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act’’); or 
(ii) through a negotiated rulemaking 
under subchapter III of part I of title 5, 
United States Code (commonly referred to 
as the ‘‘Negotiated Rulemaking Act’’); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:31 Aug 13, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H8978.IH
H8978
kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB