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The 2020 Corporate Human Rights Benchmark assesses the human rights disclosures of 230 global companies across five sectors identified as presenting a high risk of negative human rights impacts. These sectors are agricultural products, apparel, extractives, ICT manufacturing and, for the first time, automotive manufacturing.

In addition detailed data for each company is published: https://www.worldbenchmarkingalliance.org/publication/chrb/companies/

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The coronavirus pandemic is one of the most severe health, humanitarian and economic crises of our time. Outbreaks are affecting all segments of the population in every corner of the globe, however the health and economic impacts of the virus are being borne disproportionately by the poorest and most vulnerable. The effects of COVID-19 and associated restrictions could be felt for decades.

Companies have a responsibility to respect the rights of workers and other stakeholders in their operations and across their supply chains at all times. Fulfilling this responsibility is more essential than ever in the present climate, especially where the most vulnerable workers and communities are concerned.

This is why WBA decided to supplement the 2020 CHRB assessment with a separate study, which considers how the same 229 companies have been impacted by, and have responded to, the increased human right risks and impacts associated with the COVID-19 crisis.

By carrying out this separate study, WBA wanted to explore the response of the private sector to COVID-19. The aim was to identify examples of best practice, where companies have demonstrably placed respect for human rights at the heart of their approach, as well as to highlight instances where companies may have been falling short and, therefore, where increased accountability is needed.

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Fashion Revolution conducted the first consumer survey in 2018 among people aged 16-75 in the five largest European markets – Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK. In August 2020, a follow-up survey was carried out in the same countries to learn about their shopping behaviour in the last twelve months and current views on some of fashion’s most pressing social and environmental issues.

The research aimed to discover what information consumers would like fashion brands to share when it comes to social and environmental impacts and to better understand what roles consumers think that governments and laws should play in ensuring clothing is sustainably produced.

This survey is part of Trade Fair, Live Fair,’ a 3-year project funded by the European Commission that brings together 35 partners from the Fair Trade community across the EU to raise public awareness and contribute to achieving Goal 12.8 of the UN’s Sustainable Development framework: “ to ensure that, by 2030, people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature”.

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The fashion industry pollutes the planet and the communities that form the backbone of its supply chains with more climate pollution than aviation. Yet it needs increasingly value-driven customers if brands are to return from the brink of disaster wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. This report outlines 5 steps fashion brands must take to drawdown their emissions rapidly, including setting ambitious climate commitments with full transparency, centering renewable energy in supply chain decisions with specific commitments to phase out coal, advocating for renewable energy policies in supply chain countries, sourcing lower carbon and longer lasting materials, and reducing the climate impacts of shipping.

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The annual report 2016 of the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt) focuses on three topics: Fashion and textiles, environmental costs of products and sustainable consumption.

Fashion and textiles – The prize of beauty: Every year, there are up to twelve new collections in the clothing stores on Germany's high streets. But this fast fashion is having a huge impact on the environment and on the people who live in manufacturing countries.

Environmental costs of products – Money and the environment: A flight to Barcelona for EUR 20, a kilogram of pork for EUR 3 - we're still miles away from full ecological prices. This might cost us dearly in the future. What should the state do?

Sustainable consumption: The dominant lifestyle choices and consumption patterns of people in industrialised countries are increasingly testing the resilience of the global environment.

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