Context
The textile and clothing industry is an important economic sector in many developing countries. Despite positively impacting economic growth and employment, working conditions are often problematic – international human rights standards, social issues and the environmental often play a minor role.
The sector is dominated by large Western companies. In the National Action Plan for Business and Human Rights, the German Government therefore requires German companies to meet due diligence obligations relating to human rights and the environment, analyse risks in their supply chains, and take action. The aim is to prevent and mitigate negative impacts.
In 2014, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) launched the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (PST). Together with actors from the government, the private sector, civil society, standards organisations and trade unions, the Partnership works to improve social and environmental conditions in the supply chain.
Objective
European companies take greater responsibility for due diligence in the textile industry.
Approach
The project runs the PST Secretariat and supports and coordinates the activities of the members. The goals are aligned with international agreements and guidelines. The PST is built on three pillars:
- Individual responsibility: Member companies perform due diligence in the supply chain and report on this.
- Joint commitment: Actors implement joint initiatives in production countries.
- Mutual support: The PST facilitates the exchange of experiences and encourages dialogue on potential solutions.
The Partnership cooperates with European and international initiatives.
The project also strives to better position German development cooperation in the context of responsible textile supply chains. As part of this, it advises BMZ on content and strategy.
Last update: April 2025