TS EN ISO 5157

TS EN ISO 5157 is a vocabulary standard focused on environmental aspects in the textile sector and on concepts linked to the circular economy. It brings together the terms and definitions used across the textile value chain, including design, production, retail, use and reuse, recycling processes, repair and disposal. As a vocabulary document, it helps ensure that environmental and circularity discussions use a common technical language.

How the terminology is organised in practice

The standard is concerned with conceptual consistency rather than product specifications. In general technical terms, that means it supports the shared understanding of ideas such as material selection, product design, durability, reuse, reparability, recovery and waste handling. In textiles, environmental terminology often spans the whole life cycle of a product, from initial design choices through repeated use and end-of-life pathways, so a controlled vocabulary is especially useful when different stakeholders need to describe the same process in the same way.

Why this matters across the textile value chain

A structured vocabulary is valuable for manufacturers, designers, retailers, recyclers and sustainability professionals who need a consistent reference point. When terms around environmental performance and circular economy are used consistently, reporting, policy development, supply-chain communication and technical documentation become clearer. TS EN ISO 5157 is about standardised terminology, not about prescribing a test method or setting performance limits.