Germany is sending out a message to the global textile industry for fair production. The steering committee of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles, the German Development Ministry and the textile industry have put in place a roadmap for companies and business federations to join the partnership on a broad basis now, according to a statement by the German ministry of economic cooperation and development.
The foundation for broad-based support for the Textiles Partnership is an agreed joint action plan. The partners now have made the action plan more specific and precise on a number of important points, particularly with regard to the way in which partnership members have to pursue and achieve binding objectives and how progress can be monitored in a transparent manner.
Development Minister Gerd Müller said, "The Textiles Partnership has made decisive headway. Two years after the collapse of the Rana Plaza textile factory in Bangladesh, we are sending an important signal in Germany for fair textile production. We all have a responsibility for this – and we need to live up to it together! Many of our partners in Europe and internationally have already voiced interest in our Textiles Partnership, which may become a real hallmark of our effort to achieve social and environmental standards for the textile industry."
The Textiles Partnership was set up on 16 October 2014 at the initiative of Müller. It was launched by stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, trade unions and the government. Its purpose is to improve living conditions and environmental conditions for workers in producer countries. At present, the Partnership has a membership of about 70 organisations.
