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Germany is one of the most important textile markets in the world and imports 9% of global clothing imports. 90% of the textiles in our wardrobes are produced in developing countries, where poor working conditions and the use of numerous toxic chemicals are unfortunately too often still common practice. Germany has a particularly great responsibility to promote compliance with social and environmental standards in textile supply chains. The Federal Government is therefore committed to decent working conditions, living wages, the avoidance of toxic chemicals and environmentally friendly production processes worldwide.

In the report, the Federal Government sets out which measures were implemented in 2018 and presents new targets for 2019.

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This study analyses the limiting impact of using a company size threshold in future due diligence and corporate accountability regulation in the Netherlands and the EU. Based on an analysis of the Dutch textiles and garment sector as a whole and the companies participating in the Dutch Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textiles (AGT), this study finds that any company size threshold would very strongly limit the number of companies covered by future due diligence legislation. If a high company size threshold, as currently applied in the French Duty of Vigilance Law and the German Supply Chain Law, were to be used in future Dutch and EU due diligence regulation, this would mean only a very limited number of companies would have to comply with mandatory due diligence obligations. In contrast, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), just like large enterprises, face severe risks in their value chains and can be directly linked or contribute to human rights violations or environmental damage.

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The report is based on data collected in 2018 and 2019, before the COVID-19 crisis. The studies presented in this report intend to create awareness on the less visible parts of textile supply chains, by focussing on recycling discarded textiles in Panipat, India. The report reveals the importance of incorporating social issues in the concept of textile recycling, shows stakeholders the importance to continue the dialogue, and addresses the most important issues: the elimination of child labour in the textile recycling industry in Panipat and improved working conditions for the people in the textile recycling supply chains.

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For decades, jeans have been at the heart of endless fashion collections. The Jeans Redesign guidelines encourage leading brands, mills, and manufacturers to transform the way jeans are made. Based on the principles of a circular economy, they're a blueprint for collective action to scale circular practices.

The guidelines are a starting point for industry to design and make products aligned with the principles of a circular economy. Making jeans that are used more, made to be made again, and made from safe and recycled or renewable inputs.

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This review of empirical evidence on working conditions seeks to determine whether wages and working conditions are better in or out of global supply chains. Understanding the relative wages and other working conditions in exporters compared to domestic producers can help authorities make better policies and laws that will support sustainable development and economic growth. This review looks and compares evidence from firms that participate in global supply chains to those that do not. Although global – or cross border – supply chains exist in all countries, this analysis focuses on the manufacturing sector in developing countries, where concerns have been mentioned about low wages and poor working conditions as potential consequences of participation in global supply chains.

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