Garments and Textile

For over a year, representatives of the former Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile have worked hard with the Ethical Trading Initiative, Fair Wear Foundation and the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles to define responsible purchasing practices. This has led to a Common Purchasing Practices Framework. Purchasing practices are an important factor for positive impact at production sites.

The Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile (AGT) has taken significant steps towards a sustainable garment and textile sector. This was the conclusion of the final evaluation of the agreement, which ended on 31 December 2021. Under the agreement, companies received advice, tools and training to help them set up and implement their policy. The aim was to analyse risks, improve working conditions, prevent pollution and promote animal welfare in production countries. Achieving substantial improvements in the garment and textile supply chain will require time and effort beyond the agreement period, however.

The Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile has expanded its assessment framework with numerous links to due diligence tools, examples of companies and explanations of terms. The assessment framework describes how clothing and textile companies were assessed in the field of international responsible business conduct (IRBC). With this update, the document has become even more valuable for all companies within the sector and beyond.

CNV Internationaal is developing a collective bargaining agreement together with workwear companies ETP, Groenendijk Bedrijfskleding, HAVEP and Tricorp for their supplier and other surrounding garment factories in Vietnam.

The collective project 'Factory support programme: continuous improvement of labour conditions in Tamil Nadu, India' aims to improve working conditions in the south Indian state by addressing social issues. After the first year, lessons learned and results have been summarized, including reduced absenteeism, better understanding of Indian labor law and an employee helpline.

The Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile and the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles have jointly released a report with insights from buyer and supplier feedback. In Spring 2021 feedback was collected through purchasing practices surveys by 48 participating companies, receiving insights from 954 brand employees and 445 suppliers. The report sums up key takeaways, learnings and recommendations from this huge dataset.

The Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile has been concluded after five and a half years with a successful, interactive meeting. A series of speakers from companies, social organizations and government looked back and forward to the future, together with the guests. The added value of collaboration within the sector was considered a key element.

On 14 December 2021, the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile and the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles organize a webinar on responsible purchasing practices in the garments and textile sector.

Modint has taken the initiative within the Agreement on Sustainable Garment and Textile to capture all combined knowledge of businesses and experts in two tools for companies.

A group of multi-stakeholder initiatives, including the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile, has drafted a common framework for responsible purchasing practices. These are essential to achieve improvements in working conditions in supply chains in the garments and textile sector.