Canopy Revises Hot Button Ratings To Accelerate Next Gen Fibre Adoption
Environmental non-profit Canopy has unveiled new criteria for its annual Hot Button Report, placing greater emphasis on Next Gen fibre adoption, supply chain traceability and forest conservation while retaining responsible sourcing as a core requirement.
The revised framework, which will take effect in the 2027 report, reduces assessment categories from seven to five and simplifies the shirt colour rating system to green, yellow and red. Producers with known high-risk sourcing will receive a red shirt rating.
The criteria introduce clearer targets, expressed in volumes and percentages, while recognising the differing capabilities of small, medium and large producers. They also give greater weight to scaling alternative feedstocks, including recycled textiles, improving transparency and supporting landscape-level conservation projects.
The Hot Button Report assesses producers of man-made cellulosic fibres (MMCFs), including viscose, lyocell and acetate, on forest sourcing and progress in scaling Next Gen fibres. Producers earn buttons for meeting criteria and receive a shirt colour rating. A green shirt indicates low or no known risk of Ancient and Endangered Forests or controversial fibre in a producer’s supply chain. More than 550 brands participating in CanopyStyle use the report to inform purchasing decisions.
“The Hot Button helped change the conversation about where fashion’s fibres come from. Ten years ago, the industry was asking whether viscose could be sourced without destroying the world’s most vital forests. Today, we have the opportunity to build a fibre system that is circular, resilient, and keeps forests standing,” said Maryann Ramirez, Senior Lead at Canopy.
“Hot Button is a system that must feel fair, equitable, and consistent year-to-year so producers can plan with confidence. At the same time, it must remain flexible enough to credit diverse pathways to impact,” she added.
Canopy developed the framework following consultations with all 28 rated MMCF producers and select brand partners. It also completed a legal review to align the criteria with international legislation.
