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Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector

 

OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment & Footwear Sector

The garment and footwear sector is one of the largest consumer goods sectors in the world.  The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector establishes a common understanding of due diligence in the sector to help companies meet the due diligence expectations laid out in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

Since its adoption in 2017, the OECD Garment Guidance has become accepted as the landmark framework for due diligence in the sector, supported by 50 governments, aligned with OECD, UN and ILO instruments, and negotiated with business, trade unions and civil society. It provides ambitious but pragmatic guidance to all companies - large and small - operating in global garment and footwear supply chains, to prevent and address the negative impacts of their activities and contribute to sustainable development.

 

 Download the Guidance

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In a nutshell:

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Read about the 2017 launch event


 

OECD e-learning course on Due Diligence for Garment and Footwear Supply Chains

Following the successful launch of the OECD e-learning Academy on Responsible Business Conduct last year, a new e-learning course on Due Diligence for Garment and Footwear Supply Chains is now available to supplement your learning from the Essentials of OECD Due Diligence for Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) and advance your knowledge on OECD risk-based due diligence in supply chains specific to the sector. The new course aims to help learners deepen their knowledge of prevalent human rights, labour rights and environmental risks in the garment and footwear sector and understand how to implement OECD due diligence recommendations in their own operations and supply chain.

REGISTER HERE

LOGIN HERE (for those that are already registered on the e-Learning Academy)

 

OECD Alignment Assessments

The OECD has launched a process to assess the alignment of multi-stakeholder and industry initiatives with the detailed recommendations of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector.

This process, called the OECD Alignment Assessment Process, is voluntary and two assessments have been concluded to date.

▶ Ongoing alignment assessments

Full assessments: Fair Wear Foundation, Green Button certification

Written standards-only assessments: Global Organic Textile Standard certification, Cradle to Cradle Gold certification, OEKO-TEX Responsible Business Standard certification, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production certification, Fair Labor Association accrediation

Access completed alignment assessments

 

 

Business Handbooks on risk-based due diligence

Business Handbook on Due Diligence for Enabling Living Incomes and Living Wages in Global Supply Chains in the Agricultural, Garment and Footwear Sectors.

The OECD is developing a Handbook that will help businesses identify, prevent and address risks related to living incomes and living wages by effectively implementing OECD risk-based due diligence.  Handbook forthcoming.

Access the Project information sheet

 

Business Handbook on due diligence for climate risks in garment and footwear supply chains

The OECD is collaborating with UNEP and the UNFCCC Secretariat to develop a Handbook to provide targeted practical actions to support businesses in implementing due diligence in the context of climate risks and adverse impacts in the garment and footwear sector.  Handbook forthcoming.

Access the Project information sheet

Learn more about the OECD's work on Environmental Due Diligence

 

 

 

More reports in the Garment and Footwear Sector

Pilot on Integrating OECD Due Diligence into Public Procurement in the Garment Sector Garment and Footwear Sectors

Following the release of Integrating RBC in Public Procurement in 2021, the OECD conducted a pilot to support public buyers in integrating OECD risk-based due diligence in the public procurement of garment and textiles.

Download the pilot report

 

OECD Feasibility Study

The OECD Feasibility Study provides an overview of different strategies for developing such a resource. It was designed to identify and assess potential methodological approaches for measuring the uptake, incentives and outcomes of enterprises’ due diligence practices as presented in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and elaborated upon in the OECD Garment Guidance. 

Read the full report

 

Read the highlights

 

Introductory paper on SMEs and RBC

Given the great number of SMEs and their importance in the garment and footwear sector, this Introductory Paper on SMEs and Responsible Business Conduct considers the persisting challenges they face in implementing due diligence in their supply chains as well as the specific opportunities linked to their circumstances. The paper describes key characteristics of garment SMEs and their due diligence practices, the perceived obstacles they face in due diligence implementation and which type of RBC tools and support mechanisms appear to be more adapted to their situation.

Read the full report

 

Read the highlights

 

Responsible Business Conduct in the Garment and Footwear Sector in Latin America and the Caribbean

This regional report provide an analysis of RBC issues and initiatives to promote and enable the business engagement of responsible garment and footwear supply chains in Latin America and the Caribbean

English 

Spanish

 

 
OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector

This annual event brings together representatives from government, business, trade unions, civil society and international organisations to discuss challenges and risks, as well as learnings and solutions related to implementing due diligence in the global garment and footwear supply chains.

Save the date for the 2025 Forum:  12-13 February 2025

About the Forum

Policymaker Roundtable: 11 February 2025

 

 

Manufacturers Network for Due Diligence in the Garment & Footwear Sector

The OECD established an informal network of manufacturers in the garment and footwear sector in 2019, to provide a discussion space for manufacturers to share experiences on implementing due diligence in their operations and supply chain, build a common understanding of due diligence topics and challenges, and bring a shared voice to the broader discussions at the annual OECD Garment Forum.

This Manufacturers Network meeting is open to manufacturers' associations, for more information contact julia.delvalle@oecd.org

Learn more about the OECD Manufacturers Network

 

RBC Capacity Building in MENA Region

Applications are now open to the regional capacity building programme on due diligence for Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) in the garment and footwear sector in the Middle East, North Africa, and Türkiye.

The training programme is free of charge, designed to support companies in carrying out risk-based due diligence to identify, prevent and mitigate adverse impacts.

More information about the Programme

 

OECD Due Diligence Checker for the Garment and Footwear Sector

The Due Diligence Checker guides you through the 6-step due diligence framework of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment & Footwear Sector. After completing the questionnaire, you will receive an indicative gap analysis based on your responses to identify areas where your initiative should adjust its requirements to better reflect the Garment and Footwear Guidance.

Start your self-check now

Report on government promotion and support of businesses to implement the Garment & Footwear Guidance

How have the adhering governments and their National Contact Points actively promoted and supported the use of the OECD Garment & Footwear Guidance by companies since 2017?

While implementation remains mixed and efforts need to be intensified, the report cites many good practice examples, tools and resources from which the sector could draw inspiration to scale-up, collaborate and improve implementation. Some country-specific tables and graphs give a quick overview of the gaps that need to be filled.

More information on the related OECD Recommendation and the report ▶ OECD Legal Instruments

Read the Council Report

 

Resources

 

How can fashion brands mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on garment workers?

How OECD’s new due diligence instrument can transform the global garment industry

 

After Rana Plaza: Spotlight on responsible business conduct, OECD Observer

 

 

Contact

 

For more information, please contact: rbcgarment&footwear@oecd.org

 

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