How to improve Chemical Management through more Sustainable Practices

Between 2018 and 2021 fashion retailer Zalando and the German Agency for International Cooperation Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implemented a project approach to better understand the situation and needs of a chosen set of factories in China. With the aim to improve Chemical Management through more sustainable practices. The course of the project revealed some key findings which can help others set-up, assess, and improve their own Chemical Management systems. The tools are freely available.

How does the toolkit work and to which stakeholders is it targeted?

• Brands & Retailers can use the toolkit, including the first more general chapters, to understand and copy the project approach in their supply chain. This relates to the elements of the project (esp. mapping, testing, training and action plans), but also to overall project set-up management and lessons
• Suppliers can use the fact sheets on each thematic area, to learn about the parts they are most interested in, as well as the respective tools they can use in the implementation. It is encouraged that suppliers also consider copying the full approach, however, for suppliers that are mainly interested in one topic, the toolkit shall also allow easy access to information on one thematic area only

The structure of the fact sheets for each thematic area will always follow the same logic: First you will learn about the benefit and rationale of engaging on this activity, then you will learn more about the approach that is used and how it can be implemented, then, you will find some notes regarding main findings, what costs to expect and some lessons we found relevant to share.

Click here to get to all resources for the CM Toolkit.