The EU Forced Labour Regulation marks a major step forward in global efforts to eliminate forced labour. YESS provides a credible, practical, and internationally aligned roadmap for brands and mills to manage forced-labour risk with confidence, helping companies prepare now to avoid future disruptions, and uphold ethical sourcing commitments that go beyond regulatory minimums. Keep an eye out for part two of this blog series, which will illustrate how brands and mills can leverage YESS to maximize efficiency and impact in the middle of the supply chain.

From quadrupling our Participating Mill List, launching new e-learning tools, to greeting new Board Members Peter Burrows, Cara Chacon, and Karen Korponai, 2025 has been full of progress and momentum toward ethical, transparent cotton supply chains. 

RSN’s YESS initiative has quadrupled in size, we are now 35 mills strong! 

“This is more than just growth—it’s momentum,” said Patricia Jurewicz, RSN CEO & YESS creator. Mills are stepping up to embrace due diligence, transparency, and human rights in the heart of value chains. From 8 to 35 in a year—together, we’re proving that transformation at scale is possible.  

On this International Human Rights Day, we want to celebrate the leap forward to protect human rights with the passing of the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Having mandatory human rights due diligence required of companies and throughout their value chains is a huge accomplishment, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact in sourcing countries.