Contributions Overview
During this seminar, we invited panelists with decades of experience in garment manufacturing and chemical supply chain to engage in discussions about the current chemical management system for garment manufacturers, its successes and shortcomings, and the valuable input from manufacturers on how it can be enhanced. Furthermore, the seminar explored the perspectives and strategies of chemical companies for enhancing data transparency and identified common values held by both garment and chemical suppliers that can contribute to a more streamlined, efficient, and traceable data flow for managing chemicals within the supply chain. In the following you can find the recording of the seminar along with the knowledge product.
In this online seminar, we delved into the changing trade dynamics of three Asian nations: Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Cambodia, once a Least Developed Country (LDC), met graduation criteria in 2021 and is poised to potentially graduate in 2027, impacting its preferential trade agreement, the Everything But Arms (EBA). Bangladesh, another LDC, has heavily utilized the EBA for duty-free exports to the EU, particularly in the booming garment industry, and is preparing for graduation by 2026. Meanwhile, Pakistan, although not an LDC, has successfully leveraged the GSP+ status with the EU, offering valuable lessons in trade preferences and compliance. In the following you can find the recording of the seminar along with the knowledge product.
Exploring Information Flow – how data is passed and reported in chemical management
Pragmatically, chemical management is about having an effective reporting system to collect, record, and report authentic data along the flow of materials. This session brings together a chemical supplier and a vertically integrated garment supplier to share their insights on chemical data management.
The world of textiles is undergoing a shift as Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, which were once least developed, experience changes in their trade patterns. Cambodia's growth was boosted by duty-free exports under the Everything But Arms (EBA) agreement. However, due to concerns about human rights, EBA was partially withdrawn, prompting Cambodia to explore new options. Meanwhile, Bangladesh is preparing for the end of EBA & despite never being an LDC, Pakistan gained GSP+ status. These cases highlight the importance of effective strategies for growth.
Fashion industry has wide ranging contribution towards jobs, livelihoods and trade. At the same time, its resource intensive nature means that it also has significant water, energy, chemicals, and waste footprint. Lawmakers in Europe have responded with 16 legislative tools to address the unsustainable aspects of fashion industry and many brands have established policies and targets for improving social & environmental performance. Some of the changes require capital expenditure for better machinery, switching to renewable energy, better chemicals, etc. During this technical seminar, participants were introduced to an overview of funding opportunities related to sustainable development for textile industry. Participants also heared from Impact Investment related funds about their experience, plans and objectives using case studies. In the following you can find the recording of the seminar along with the knowledge product.
Fashion supply chain decarbonization demands sustainable energy in factories, navigating regional variations. Brands face strategy hurdles, but innovation and software can reshape energy usage. This session showcases strategies, technical solutions, and explores regional context's role, propelling the discussion on effective next steps. In the following you can find the recording of the seminar along with the knowledge product.
Majority of current fashion supply chains are extremely polluting and wasteful; resulting in severe negative environmental and social impacts. While sustainability has risen to the top of the fashion industry’s agenda, the bottleneck seems to be with inadequate funds and technical support for supply chain (Tier 2/3) to deploy existing sustainable technology solutions. Individual manufacturers are in need for smarter capital funding tools that result in realizing the dreams for improved sustainability based on impact that addresses the wider goals of Net-Zero, Cleaner production, and Sustainable Development.
The fashion supply chain's decarbonization necessitates sustainable alternative energy sources in garment factories. Suppliers face the challenge of regional variations in such sources, while brands and retailers struggle to develop a cohesive strategy, especially when dealing with cross-border supply chains. However, this situation presents an opportunity to adopt innovative technologies and well-designed processes to address energy issues in garment factories, including closing loopholes in biomass supply. The session offers strategic approaches and technical solutions to foster discussions on regional context's role, its impact on alternative energy strategies, and what steps to take next.
Invitation to Moving the Needle 14 - Safeguarding workers' rights - Key issues for 2023
Our 14th online seminar in this series, hosted by GIZ Fabric, will focus on key issues facing workers in Asian apparel and textile chains in the year ahead, and what has to happen to ensure these workers’ rights are safeguarded. Four panellists with extensive experience researching and supporting workers in apparel and textile supply chains across Asia will discuss research findings from a number of articles and reports published this year. The discussion will be wide ranging, with input on issues such as purchasing practices and the non-payment of wages (still a persistent problem), the impact of this on women and homeworkers, and some analysis on how unions, workers and their allies are seeking to take wage non-payment directly to the brands themselves. There will be as always time for questions.
Invitation to Moving the Needle 13 - The Pakistan Accrod
In December last year, signatories to the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry announced they are establishing a comprehensive workplace health and safety program in Pakistan covering signatories’ garment and textile suppliers. The new Pakistan Accord is a legally binding agreement between global unions, IndustriALL and UNI Global Union, and garment brands and retailers for an initial term of three years starting in 2023. The Pakistan Accord aims to incrementally cover more than 500 factories producing for more than 100 Accord signatory companies throughout the Sindh and Punjab provinces, where most of Pakistan’s $20 billion in garment and textile exports are manufactured annually. In our 13th online seminar, hosted by GIZ Fabric, experts will discuss what brands, suppliers, and other stakeholders should expect between now and when the Accord goes live next year.
Invitation to Moving the Needle 13 - The Pakistan Accrod
In December last year, signatories to the International Accord for Health and Safety in the Textile and Garment Industry announced they are establishing a comprehensive workplace health and safety program in Pakistan covering signatories’ garment and textile suppliers. The new Pakistan Accord is a legally binding agreement between global unions, IndustriALL and UNI Global Union, and garment brands and retailers for an initial term of three years starting in 2023. The Pakistan Accord aims to incrementally cover more than 500 factories producing for more than 100 Accord signatory companies throughout the Sindh and Punjab provinces, where most of Pakistan’s $20 billion in garment and textile exports are manufactured annually. In our 13th online seminar, hosted by GIZ Fabric, experts will discuss what brands, suppliers, and other stakeholders should expect between now and when the Accord goes live next year.