About the Partnership

A strong multi-stakeholder initiative
The Textiles Partnership brings together all relevant actors: Companies, associations, non-governmental organisations, standard organisations, trade unions and the federal government.
How we work
We place a special focus on the implementation of human rights and environmental due diligence in Germany, Europe and worldwide. Together with our members, we promote transparency in textile supply chains. Four focus topics shape the work in the Textiles Partnership and the Joint Action of its members. In addition, there are further initiative topics. Lastly, we cooperate with many European and international initiatives and organisations.
Our focus topics
With its focus topics, the Textiles Partnership makes a positive contribution to central problems of the global textile industry. These include low wages, high resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions,gender-based violence and discrimination, and the lack of opportunities to report grievances in the workplace.
There is a frame of reference for each focus topic. It provides orientation in terms of content and presents the desired benchmarks and implementation steps. In addition, there are "individual commitments" of the member companies: Using standardised indicators, each member can measure progress in the focus topics individually and the Partnership can measure progress in aggregate. Lastly, the members jointly implement projects that make a measurable contribution to achieving the goals formulated in the reference framework of the respective focus topics.




Partnership initiatives and projects
Where individual actors reach their limits, members can work together to achieve better results for both people and the environment in production countries. In Partnership initiatives and joint projects, several members are directly involved in the production countries, for example for living wages, good wastewater management, effective grievance mechanisms and improvements in working conditions in Tamil Nadu in southern India.

We are members
Recent articles
On track towards more supply chain transparency
Aktuelles 07.09.2023 Lieferantenliste der Bündnisunternehmen veröffentlicht Das Bündnis für nachhaltige Textilien begrüßt den Upload der aktuellen Lieferantenliste der Bündnisunternehmen bei unserem Partner Open Supply Hub
Webinar Series: Europe’s Green Transition in the Textile Sector
Aktuelles 05.09.2023 The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Green Button launch joint webinar series on upcoming legislation under the EU Textile Strategy Join the
Together towards sustainability
Aktuelles 18.08.2023 Der neue Steuerungskreis tritt seine Amtszeit an Wir freuen uns, bekanntzugeben, dass der Steuerungskreis des Textilbündnisses vollständig ist und seine Amtszeit angetreten hat!
Next events
23.10.23 Webinar: New Reporting Requirements and Standards - The Corporate and Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)
With the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) on the horizon, companies are preparing for the new reporting standard. The new requirements will allow for consistent and comparable reporting that will help both companies to unify their reporting obligations and the public to easily understand and compare sustainability efforts. The webinar will focus on the perspectives of brands, reporting experts and suppliers, we will also critically examine the potential pitfalls of burden sharing between brands, retailers, and suppliers.
For further information and registration please follow this link.
08. & 09.11.23 9. Mitgliederversammlung
Weitere Informationen folgen.
15.11.23 Webinar: Stricter Waste Regulation and Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles
The proposed Waste Shipment Regulation (WSR) & Waste Framework Directive (WFD) are designed to strictly regulate waste exports in general and make shipment and disposal of textile waste outside EU borders the exception. The core of the proposal is expected to anchor the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for textiles. This session will provide an overview on the current state and content of the proposals and discuss their potential impact for brands, retailers, and suppliers alike.
For further information and registration please follow this link.
22.11.23 Responsible Contracting in Global Supply Chains – a tool for Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence
The Initiative for Global Solidarity offers one day of engaging input on the legal
developments around CSDDD and LKSG, as well as practical tools for responsible
contracting. Learn about the role of contracts in upcoming legislations and how to
integrate responsible contracting into your HREDD systems. This workshop is for CSR and legal staff from European Brands.
For registration and further
questions,
please contact Nicolina Hajdu,
by 20. October 2023,
nicolina.hajdu@giz.de.
31.01.24 Webinar: Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation: A Game-changer for the textiles sector?
The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products (ESPR) proposal establishes a framework for setting ecodesign requirements for specific product groups in order to significantly improve their circularity, energy performance and other aspects of environmental sustainability. One of these product groups, for which requirements on product performance and product information disclosure will be set, is textiles. The Digital Product Passport for textiles will for example play a key role in this Regulation. The webinar will focus on the challenges for brands, suppliers and other stakeholders in the sector and how best to prepare for them.
For further information and registration please follow this link.
28.02.24 Webinar: A future without modern slavery: EU-legislation and upcoming requirements for the textiles sector
With the European Commission’s proposal for a „Regulation to prohibit products made using forced labour on the internal market of the EU“ (Forced Labour Ban) – including child labour – the EU underlines its efforts to ban all products made under such conditions for domestic consumption, export and import.
In this session we’ll look at the potential impact of the Forced Labour Ban on the textile sector and how companies can begin to prepare for the upcoming obligations along their supply chains. Following the approach of the webinar series, this session will focus on possible ways forward for brands and retailers to work with their suppliers to fulfil their due diligence obligations and move towards a future free of modern slavery.
For further information and registration please follow this link.
06.03.24 Webinar: Tackling greenwashing: The Directive to Empower Consumers for the Green Transition and the Green Claims Directive
To combat greenwashing, the Directive aims to ensure that green claims are reliable and verifiable across the EU, enabling consumers to make informed and sustainable purchasing decisions. It targets, among others, generic environmental claims such as “eco-friendly”, “green” or “climate neutral”. The session will examine the proposed Directive in much more detail and discuss its implications for stakeholders in the textile sector.
For further information and registration please follow this link.
Become a member of the Textiles Partnership!
Advantages of membership:
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Networking
Exchange ideas with other members and learn from each other - at the working meeting, the members' meeting, in strategy groups, and at workshops.
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Support
The Textiles Partnership offers many guidances and manuals, tools and events and the Partnership Secretariat is there to support you if you have any questions.
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Joint Action
You can join forces with other members to implement joint projects - together we achieve more!
How to become a member:
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One-on-one consultation
Schedule a one-on-one consultation with the Partnership Secretariat.
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Application form
Fill out the membership application form.
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Admittance to the Textiles Partnership
The steering committee decides on the admission.
FAQ
What is the Textiles Partnership?
The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles is a multi-stakeholder initiative with members from the private sector (companies and associations), trade unions, non-governmental organisations, standard organisations and the German Federal Government. Together, they are committed to a social, ecological and corruption-free textile and clothing industry. In order to achieve its goals, the Textiles Partnership places particular emphasis on the implementation of corporate due diligence obligations in Germany, Europe and worldwide. Here you will find further information on the Textiles Partnership.
Who can become a member of the PST?
In light of the complex global challenges facing the textile and garment industry, real change requires the participation of all stakeholders. As a multi-stakeholder initiative, the Textiles Partnership therefore brings together companies in the textile and garment industry and trade with other actors who are active on the subject of sustainable textiles – including associations, non-governmental organisations, trade unions and standard organisations. The German Federal Government is represented by three Federal Ministries. In addition, scientific institutions or federal authorities can become advisory members. Further information on the membership
Which topics does the Textiles Partnership deal with?
Schwerpunktmäßig bearbeitet das Textilbündnis vier Fokusthemen: 1) Living wages and purchasing practices, 2) Kreislaufwirtschaft und Klimaschutz, 3) Gender equality und 4) Grievance mechanisms and remedy.
There is a frame of reference for each focus topic. It provides orientation in terms of content and presents the desired benchmarks and implementation steps. In addition, there are "individual commitments" of the member companies: Using standardised indicators, each member can measure progress in the focus topics individually and the Partnership can measure progress in aggregate. Lastly, the members jointly implement projects that make a measurable contribution to achieving the goals formulated in the reference framework of the respective focus topics.
Are there membership fees?
No membership fees are charged for a membership in the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles. Costs may arise for assessment meetings as part of the Review Process as well as for participation in Partnership initiatives and projects in production countries.
What distinguishes the Textiles Partnership from the "Green Button" label?
The Textiles Partnership and the Green Button are based on the same fundamental international agreements of the UN on compliance with human and workers' rights, environmental protection and the prevention of corruption, as well as on corresponding EU guidelines and initiatives and on the recommendations of the OECD. Both strive for the consistent implementation of human rights and ecological due diligence obligations. While the Textiles Partnership pursues this goal as a multi-stakeholder initiative with learning, dialogue and reporting formats, information, joint measures in production countries and a broad international cooperation network, the Green Button is a state meta-label for which companies must fulfil certain Anforderungen an die unternehmerischen Sorgfaltsprozesse und die Produktion product and company criteria. Through active membership in the Partnership, companies can prepare for possible certification with the Green Button. In addition, the Green Button 2.o audit report will be recognised in the PST Review Process from 2023 onwards. Further information on the Green Button website and on other (textile) certifications and labels on Siegelklarheit.
What is the added value of a membership in the Textiles Partnership?
As the first point of contact for all companies that want to assume their ecological and human rights responsibility throughout the entire supply chain, the Textiles Partnership offers a broad network and support. Among other things, it is a platform for learning and dialogue: the members network within and with the other stakeholder groups. They share their knowledge and work together on best practices, for example in webinars and workshops, expert and working groups as well as with the help of tools and support materials. In addition, the members join forces in Partnership initiatives and projects and, thus achieve improvements and progress in the producing countries that would hardly be possible on their own.
How does the Textiles Partnership support the implementation of the Supply Chain Care Obligations Act?
In 2021, the German Federal Government passed the Supply Chain Care Obligations Act (LkSG). The law lays down requirements for the due diligence obligations of companies. The Textiles Partnership is also committed to the implementation of due diligence obligations and is guided by international standards. With the Review Process, the Textiles Partnership has developed an implementation framework and a reporting format for corporate due diligence. Companies in the Textiles Partnership, for example, are therefore familiar with the systematic analysis of their risks and are therefore well prepared for the requirements of the law. However, a membership in the Textiles Partnership and participation in the Review Process are not proof of compliance with the legal requirements. On the homepage of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development you will find further information on the Supply Chain Act.