This week at a Rana Plaza commemoration event, Commissioner Neven Mimica presented the working document Sustainable garment value chain through EU development action, which outlines the EU response for more sustainable textile and clothing value chain, as part of its development policy. The Commissioner focused on intervention areas such as financial support, promotion of best practices and raising awareness among consumers.

New report

Yesterday, the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted on a new report on the EU Flagship initiative on the garment sector calling the European Commission to take action across all aspects of social, environmental and financial sustainability, while stressing human-rights issues.

The vote marks the conclusion of research into the complexity of the global garment value chain and into investigating options to boost fair and responsible business practices globally. “Moving on to the next steps, Euratex believes the efforts shall focus on building upon the achievements of successful voluntary initiatives and refraining from creating new mandatory due diligence ruling,” the organisation reports.

Working together

“Tackling a global issue, we welcome the Commission and the Parliament acknowledgements of the need to act globally and to align with ILO standards and the last OECD due diligence guidance which was presented last February.”

According to Euratex, fair and effective solutions can only be produced by working together with all parties. “We therefore wish to stress the need to seize the momentum for institutions, industry and society to work on:

• building up on the achievements from successful voluntary initiatives
• refrain from creating new mandatory ruling
• consider diversity along the value chain, and
• facilitate transparency and information for the consumers, to ultimately help people choosing sustainable products

“Euratex reiterates its commitment to constructively work together for fair policy proposals which can deliver results on the ground and make a difference,” the organisation concludes.

www.euratex.eu