Major retailers launch unified questionnaire and digital tool powered by TrusTrace

As sustainability and supply chain data demands on fashion companies intensify, a fragmented landscape of initiatives and systems has emerged. While well-intentioned, these disparate solutions have created a significant administrative burden, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. To drive operational efficiency and accelerate progress, TrusTrace, alongside seven leading retailers, is proud to announce the launch of the Retailer Brand Due Diligence Questionnaire and One Retail Hub. Together, these solutions provide a unified methodology and a free digital infrastructure to streamline compliance on Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) for the apparel and footwear sector.

The Retailer Brand Due Diligence Questionnaire is a simplified HREDD self-assessment questionnaire (SAQ) co-developed through a collaborative effort between Cascale, Fair Wear and lead retailers ABOUT YOU, ASOS, Boozt, Ellos Group, New Look, The Very Group, and Zalando. By consolidating requirements from multiple business partners into a single streamlined questionnaire, it eliminates fragmented reporting and ensures brand partners are measured against fair, universally recognized criteria.

Informed by OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector and further sector-specific standards, this questionnaire establishes a consistent, industry-wide baseline for ethical sourcing. This allows companies to navigate a complex reporting landscape, ensuring resources are directed where they are most needed to foster a more resilient and responsible supply chain.

“This initiative falls under Cascale’s mission to drive convergence, minimize duplication, and improve efficiency across the industry’s sustainability efforts. We were pleased to provide subject matter expertise and see this as an exciting opportunity for further collaboration,” said Jeremy Lardeau, senior vice president, Higg Index at Cascale

“Fair Wear is proud to bring our deep expertise in worker-centered due diligence to the development of the SAQ. Working with Cascale in The Industry We Want and the Retailer Round Table, we’ve created a shared, credible starting point for brands and retailers that promotes efficiency and reduces duplication across the sector. The SAQ lays the groundwork for clearer expectations, emphasizing the role retailers play in encouraging brands to move toward impactful due diligence and real improvements for workers. Moreover, our organizations have the tools and guidance readily available to help brands advance in their HREDD journey,” said Annabel Meurs, executive director at Fair Wear.

One Retail Hub is a free digital tool built in partnership between TrusTrace and the retailers to facilitate seamless data exchange. This platform allows brands to engage with the HREDD questionnaire continuously rather than reacting to ad-hoc requests, introducing predictability into the reporting cycle.

“One Retail Hub demonstrates what's possible when industry leaders invest in shared infrastructure rather than proprietary solutions,” said Shameek Ghosh, co-founder and CEO of TrusTrace. “By building a unified platform for HREDD data exchange, we're eliminating the duplicative reporting burden that has strained suppliers and brands alike – especially SMEs. This is how industries accelerate progress: collaborative systems that transform compliance complexity into strategic clarity. TrusTrace is proud to provide the technology enabling this sector-wide shift toward unified, actionable supply chain intelligence.”

The platform streamlines risk assessment and decision-making by offering AI-assisted completion – utilizing sustainability reports and existing documentation – and allowing brands to share responses with multiple retailers and MSIs instantly. Beyond visibility, One Retail Hub provides a data-driven mechanism to identify gaps, offering real-time results and tailored recommendations for effective remediation and corrective measures.