Fashion’s Plastic Paralysis – How Brands Resist Change and Fuel Microplastic Pollution This report examines the growing reliance of international fashion brands on synthetic fibres, a major driver of microplastic pollution, and their lack of support for meaningful legislation. Despite increasing evidence of the environmental and health risks, the industry uses distraction and delay tactics to protect its fast fashion business model. The report evaluates 50 major fashion brands on their use of synthetic fibres and their strategies to address microplastic pollution. Synthetic fibres, especially polyester, now account for over two-thirds of textile production and contribute significantly to plastic pollution, leading to serious environmental and health issues. Despite these negative impacts, most brands continue to use synthetic materials and resist substantial change. Mehr Details
The face of child labour stories from Asia’s garment sector These stories go a long way toward providing insight into the lives of child laborers working in the apparel industry in Asia. They go beyond facts or statistics and tell about people with real skills and dreams who often work in the apparel industry, an industry characterized by the use of low-skilled, low-paid and vulnerable workers. Mehr Details
Existence and effectiveness of grievance and remedy mechanisms in footwear and leather factories in India Production along global supply chains is expressed being criticised for its impacts on the living and working conditions at the places of production. Regulation for controlling business and state conduct is gaining ground, whether in form of so-called soft law such as the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises as well as the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment & Footwear Sector, or as binding regulation such as the Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations for the Prevention of Human Rights Violations in Supply Chains (LkSG) in Germany. The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), adopted by the European Union in 2024, will lead to the introduction of similar laws in all EU member states in the next few years. Mehr Details
Technology, Innovation and Work: Policy Options for Bangladesh This report includes nine chapters in which fellows aim to investigate transformative trends of social and economic development, technological and social innovations, factors of social balancing, ecological sustainability, and gender equality. The Policy Papers offer alternative strategies in their respective areas and propose the formation of inclusive platforms for fostering the implementation of a future economy. Mehr Details
Fact sheet : Hidden subcontracting in the garment industry - Zoomin in on the role of buying companies Clothing brands and retailers usually do not produce the items they sell but have their products made by a variety of manufacturers that are authorised located in low-cost countries. As fashion trends are changing at an ever faster pace, the industry is operating at ever higher speeds and demanding quick, flexible and cheap production from its suppliers to keep up. Inherently linked to this operating model is, among others, the risk of precarious workplaces that are incorporated into the supply chain through committed subcontracting arrangements. Editorial team: Anning, Vicky Mehr Details
