80% of Shoppers Demand Sustainability

How Centric PLM ensures products measure up
Whether consumers are buying clothing, cars, packaged goods or groceries, many are making purchases with sustainability in mind. In fact, a study by NielsonIQ found that a sustainable lifestyle is important to nearly 80% of consumers. A 2024 survey by PwC found that consumers are willing to spend almost 10% more on sustainably produced and sourced goods.
For retail brands and clothing manufacturers, effectively meeting this growing demand for sustainability depends on strategic material sourcing and prioritization early in the product development process.
Research from the National Retail Federation found that consumers use these three strategies most frequently when identifying sustainable products:
- Reading product labels (34%)
- Doing their own online research (33%)
- Looking for independent labels and certifications (22%)
A product lifecycle management (PLM) solution like Centric PLM™ embeds sustainability into every step of the product lifecycle, starting with material sourcing.
We saw the opportunity Centric PLM provides around digital materials. We’re able to understand where our materials are being used from a sustainability perspective, as well as making sure that factories and partners are providing us with the correct information around their use of our materials”. – Product Operations Director | Merrell
Reducing Sustainable Material Selection and Sourcing Complexity
Choosing materials from manufacturers who prioritize sustainability dramatically reduces a product’s environmental footprint. However, tracking and managing materials across regions, multiple material vendors and extensive product SKUs is a highly complex process. Challenges faced include:
- Fast-shifting standards and certifications
- Verifying authenticity of supplier sustainability claim
- Limited supply chain visibility, especially beyond tier-one supplier
- Tracking granular sustainability and ethical practices such as water usage, labor conditions, reclaimed material usage and expected material lifespans
Centric PLM seamlessly integrates with ERP systems, Adobe® Illustrator, 3D design tools and more – empowering product development teams to efficiently source, select and manage sustainable materials while ensuring products meet environmental goals with complete transparency. Centric PLM enables teams to:
Manage material sustainability at scale by capturing critical information like fabrication weight, fiber content and environmental impact directly into bills of materials (BOMs).
Track certifications such as OEKO-TEX®, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Fairtrade and bluesign®, ensuring products consistently meet international sustainability standards.
Stay ahead of certification expirations with automated reminders, reducing compliance risks and enhancing transparency.
We used to manually enter things in multiple places which is high risk for human error and miscommunications. For us, it was the ability to manage our materials and directly feed them into our tech packs.” – Senior director of Materials, Innovation and Sustainability | Outdoor Research
Enhancing Sustainable Material Traceability, Trust and Transparency
Differentiating brands in the sustainability sphere requires verifiable proof. Consumers want on-demand insight into sustainability processes at every stage of the product lifecycle. More than ever, consumers want confidence to do their part to minimize environmental impact and are willing to pay a premium on sustainable products.
Centric PLM addresses transparency by centralizing sustainability data in one accessible platform. Retail brands and manufacturers have access to detailed sustainability metrics, including fiber origin, recycled content, carbon footprint, water usage, chemical safety and ethical sourcing practices across their teams.
Centric PLM offers:
- Accurate sustainability data for labels and consumer communications
- Real-time, detailed sustainability reports, highlighting brands’ progress toward sustainability goals
- Management of compliance documents for easy verification with third-party auditors
- In-platform collaboration and document sharing, keeping suppliers accountable
Centric PLM has really done something unexpected for our sustainability reporting. We have the ability to tie together material details with volumes and mass, we see a huge reporting benefits for our carbon footprint and sustainability impact.” - Senior director of Materials, Innovation and Sustainability | Outdoor Research
Supporting Closed-Loop Material Management
Embracing circular fashion means prioritizing reuse, recycling and regeneration and carefully managing materials to reduce waste and extend product lifespans. With Centric PLM, teams have the ability to:
- Build recycling and repurposing into designs
- Centralize information about reliable circular suppliers
- Track reclaimed, recycled, or upcycled materials, identifying new opportunities for circular material use
- Strengthen consumer trust through verifiable evidence, such as transparent reports on recycled content, waste reduction and progress toward circularity goals
My advice for brands looking to be more sustainable is to identify your sustainability KPIs and then collaborate with the Centric team to reach those goals, they will make sure you're able to get to where you want to be." - Product Development Manager | tentree
Accelerating Strategic Decisions about Sustainable Materials
Today’s sustainable trends require retail brands and manufacturers to adapt quickly. With Centric PLM, teams leverage integrated predictive analytics and AI to identify sustainable materials that meet their requirements while also factoring in cost, availability and quality. Automated data updates and alerts ensure that regulatory changes and shifts in sustainability market trends are always accurate, so brands respond quickly and optimize material selection.
Sustainability is no longer optional—nearly 80% of consumers demand it. Explore how to integrate sustainable practices throughout the product lifecycle in our new eBook: Fashion and Retail Brands Prioritize Product Sustainability with Centric PLM .