In textile production, some hazardous substances are used. Examples: Cotton cultivation sometimes uses pesticides that can harm people and the environment. In the processing of the fibers and fabrics, some toxic chemicals and dyes are used. However, these substances are dangerous not only for the workers, who come into direct contact with them and often without the necessary protective equipment, but also for the environment. For instance when factories do not properly purify or filter their wastewater and the chemicals enter the water cycle. Over time, many substances accumulate in soils, waters or living beings and lead to salinization and acidification of the waters.

The members of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles have committed themselves to gradually replacing more than 160 problematic chemicals in textile production with harmless substances. They are based on a list (MRSL) of the "Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals" (ZDHC) initiative or other standards. The list makes it easier for producers to operate a uniform chemical management system.

Several Partnership members are involved in a Partnership initiative to improve wastewater management in textile production. They combine three approaches: Firstly, the aim is to raise awareness of the problem in the factories and to build up knowledge. Secondly, it is important to harmonise the testing of wastewater by means of wastewater standards and to improve data quality. And thirdly, the initiative aims at cooperation and data exchange between all actors in the supply chain as well as with scientific institutions.

Whether it's living wages or banning toxic chemicals, textile supply chains pose a number of challenges that no actor can tackle alone due to the complexity and global design of supply chains. To make textile supply chains contribute to sustainable development, the state, the economy, and civil society must join forces and face these challenges together.

The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles acts as a role model and does not only unite different actors within Germany but also cooperates with other initiatives on an international level. The aim is to achieve more impact on-site to utilise synergies and minimise duplication of work. Since the implementation of corporate due diligence obligations in accordance with the recommendations of the OECD takes centre stage of the Partnership's work, the Textiles Partnership works closely with the OECD.

Further partnerships and cooperations are dedicated to individual sector risks and topics: For example, the Textiles Partnership is working with Action Collaboration Transformation (ACT) and the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) to promote living wages and complaint mechanisms. Together with the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), the Textiles Partnership is working, among other things, to harmonise the sustainability requirements for companies on the basis of the due diligence approach of the OECD Guidelines and thus promote European and international alignment.

For better chemical management and the substitution of hazardous chemicals, the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles cooperates with the "Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals" (ZDHC) initiative and the "Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management" (SAICM). Together with the "Textile Exchange" and "Organic Cotton Accelerator" initiatives, the Textiles Partnership aims to promote the production of sustainable fibres. For more supply chain transparency, it cooperates with the "Open Apparel Registry". As a supporting organisation of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, the Textiles Partnership is committed to climate protection.

Global wealth is being unequally distributed: the top per cent of the world's population own 45 per cent of the global wealth. In 2018, 26 individuals owned as much as the 3.8 billion people constituting the poorest half of humanity. This growing financial inequality often leads to social discrimination and jeopardises the stability of society.

Inequality is also to be found in the textile industry: while companies make profits, workers are often forced to work for wages that are barely sufficient to feed themselves and their families. Since its foundation, living wages have been a central concern of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and since 2019 it has also been anchored in the review process as an obligatory goal: All members must cooperate in a measure that aims to pay living wages to workers in production countries.

Furthermore, the Partnership Initiative on Living Wages supports, among others, approaches to wage increases in producing countries. With living wages, workers in the textile industry can not only secure the livelihood for themselves and their families, but also send their children to school and set aside a little money for emergencies. In this way, social and economic inequalities can be sustainably reduced.