10 years
Partnership for Sustainable Textiles

Welcoming speech by the Minister

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The Textiles Partnership in words and figures

AMBITIOUS

Our ambition is to create positive impact along the global textile supply chain, beyond legal requirements.

12.358

small farmers supported
... in the transition to organic cotton.

FOCUSED

We tackle the major social and environmental challenges in the supply chain by focusing on living wages and purchasing practices, circular economy and climate protection, gender equality as well as grievance mechanisms and remedy.

164.070

people have better access to remedies
... thanks to Textiles Partnership measures over the last 10 years.

AWARE

Our work is based on supporting the implementation of rigorous due diligence.

84.030

employees and farmers trained in production countries
...as part of Joint Commitment activities over the last 10 years.

IMPACTFUL

Together, we improve livelihoods along the entire supply chain and protect our planet.

8.755

production sites published
... in the Open Supply Hub. The members of the Partnership are hereby contributing to greater transparency in the textile industry.
To the Open Supply hub

DIVERSE

We bring together different perspectives for inclusive dialogue.

824

suppliers supported
...to improve production and working conditions.

10 years of the Textiles Partnership - an overview

October 2014
Foundation of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles
October 2014
2015
Steering committee and working groups on important Partnership topics begin their work
2015
2016
Passing of the first Partnership Initiative
2016
2017
Voluntary publication of the first 40 roadmaps
2017
2017
Passing the guidelines for and entering into the first strategic collaborations with international partners
2017
2018
Expansion of the strategic collaborations
2018
2018
Mandatory implementation of the review process for all members for the first time
2018
2020
Publication of the results of the OECD Alignment Assessment
2020
2020
Publication of joint statement by MSIs/organisations on the responsible handling of the COVID-19 pandemic + Organisation of numerous exchange formats on the impact of COVID-19 in production countries
2020
2021
First review process following the revision based on OECD recommendations
2021
2022
Implementation and finalisation of the realignment process for the Textiles Partnership
2022
2023
Entry into force of the realignment (3 basic elements)
2023
2023
First publication of an aggregated supplier list of Partnership members via the Open Supply Hub
2023
October 2024
The Textiles Partnership celebrates its 10th anniversary
October 2024

Our anniversary film

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What our (former) heads of the Partnership Secretariat say

What were the biggest challenges at the beginning and how did the Textiles Partnership overcome them?

"At the beginning, the Textiles Partnership had to master a number of balancing acts: the balancing act between the highest possible level of standards and the widest possible market coverage, between brands and retailers, between sustainable niche and mainstream, between individual stakeholder groups, between the deeper supply chain and customer expectations, between environmental and social and human rights issues, between transparency requirements and competitive confidentiality, ... In order to achieve this, the leaders of the former steering committee agreed on a number of future-oriented points: The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles focuses on progress and thus enables companies with very different starting levels to participate. It adopted the due diligence approach as a working basis at an early stage, which meant that the members were well prepared for the relevant decisions in Germany and Europe. And it not only demands individual progress from its members, but also offers a comprehensive exchange and support programme as well as the opportunity for joint commitment. On this basis, the Textiles Partnership has successfully positioned itself as the industry's multi-stakeholder initiative in Germany."
Jürgen Janssen
Head of the Partnership Secretariat 2014-2022

Why was the reorientation process important and how is the Partnership dealing with current challenges?

"The reorientation of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles was extremely important in order to take into account the current dynamic developments in the Partnership's environment and the now legally embedded requirements regarding the implementation of corporate due diligence obligations. This gives the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles the opportunity to focus its joint resources on the implementation of joint Partnership initiatives in the production countries and thereby make a local contribution to improving working conditions and protecting the environment."
Potraitfoto von Linda Schraml
Linda Schraml
Head of the Partnership Secretariat 2023-2024

What future priorities and measures are planned for the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles?

"For the future of the Partnership, I would like to see us further expand our focus on local impact. Thematically, the realignment should be further advanced with a focus on joint commitment while taking the legal environment into account. To achieve this, support services for members are to be intensified in order to provide new and existing members with the best possible support in their joint work in the Partnership and in adapting to the regulatory environment. It is an honour for me, as Head of the Secretariat, together with my great team, to support the members of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles in the future in driving forward the social and ecological transformation of textile supply chains! "
Gina Burgard
Head of the Partnership Secretariat since 2024

What our members say

What characterises the Textiles Partnership?
Famke Taddigs, Hakro
"A wide variety of stakeholder groups come together in the Textiles Partnership, share their knowledge and work together on different initiatives, and we at HAKRO really value this collaborative approach. As it comes to sustainability in general, you can only make progress together if you combine your knowledge."

Why are you a member of the Textiles Partnership?

Esther Geue, Weitblick

"We very much believe that sustainable and really good change in the textile industry is only possible together. And that's why an initiative like the Textiles Partnership is exactly the right place for it. For us as a company, it's important to be able to incorporate other perspectives into our day-to-day work, be it those of the German government or civil society, because in everyday life you sometimes become a little routine-blinded."
What is the role of the multi-stakeholder character?
Lavinia Muth, Femnet e.V.
"I firmly believe that the Textiles Partnership is a unique multi-stakeholder initiative in the textile industry. There is no other initiative in other countries or in the landscape of the textile industry that really brings together all stakeholder groups and in which all stakeholders have a voice. And that is fantastic."

What is the added value of the Textiles Partnership?

Berndt Hinzmann, INKOTA-network

"We believe that when stakeholders from different groups work together to find solutions, real improvements can be achieved."