The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles is reorganising itself and laying a new foundation for stable and sustainable future collaboration with its transformation into the format ‘Dialogue and Impact for Sustainable Textiles’.
Since its foundation eleven years ago, the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (PST) has been a multi-stakeholder initiative bringing together relevant actors in this sector, including industry, civil society, trade unions and politics. Through this network, members contribute different perspectives and develop joint solutions and initiatives to help improve social and environmental conditions in global textile supply chains.
Together with its members the Partnership has defined approaches for implementing due diligence for human rights and the environment in textile supply chains, achieving this among other things through systematic risk assessment and reporting. In doing so, the members of the PST have demonstrated what is possible when companies take responsibility and fulfill the due diligence obligations for their supply chains. This valuable groundwork has helped pave the way for the legal implementation of due diligence obligations, such as in the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act.
Dialogue and Impact for Sustainable Textiles (DST)
The framework conditions in the textile industry have changed significantly in recent years. The establishment of due diligence obligations in Germany has progressed further, partly thanks to the work of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles. Industry developments are more dynamic than ever, particularly with regards to new regulations. The Partnership is responding to this dynamic and has decided, together with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), to initiate the necessary transformation towards a new, more agile, and independently organised form of cooperation: the multi-stakeholder-network Dialogue and Impact for Sustainable Textiles (DST). The new format will also place greater emphasis on the personal commitment of participants where after eleven years, participants will assume greater financial responsibility for joint implementation projects. The federal government will continue to support the format.
Goals of the new format
The new format focuses on dialogue between committed stakeholders on sustainable textile supply chains, mutual learning and the development of joint projects. Current members of the Partnership and other interested stakeholders come together as participants of the DST, with the aim of bringing about better environmental, living and working conditions in production countries through the development of joint initiatives in a needs-based and individual manner. This takes place both through an annual in person meeting and through digital networking between stakeholders throughout the year.
The multi-stakeholder network continues to target a broad spectrum of relevant actors in the textile and garment industry such as: German and European companies and associations, NGOs, trade unions, sustainability standards and the German Federal Government, represented by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). To ensure that the measures have a lasting impact and are firmly established, local stakeholders and rights holders are to be more actively involved in the dialogue and implementation, for example represented by local trade associations, international and local trade unions and local NGOs. The circle is complemented by scientific institutions and multi-stakeholder initiatives. Close cooperation with partners in the industry enables better use of synergies, thus positioning the Textiles Partnership for the future.
Next Steps
The DST format will launch with a future-oriented structure and a kick-off event in April 2026 as a dialogue and implementation platform for a sustainable textile sector.
The factsheet on the Dialogue and Impact for Sustainable Textiles provides an initial overview of the structure and functioning of the new format: