A recent event on transparency and traceability in garment value chains hosted in Brussels by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the European Commission (EC) was the latest European Development Days occasion aimed at helping European companies.
The event was headlined, ‘Do you know where your clothes come from?’ and took as its theme the opportunities for ensuring a more sustainable clothing industry.
The Brussels event came on the back of another event held in April Preceding this event, organised by the UN Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (CEFACT) titled ‘Traceability for Sustainable Value Chains: Textile and Leather Sector.’
A number of awareness raising initiatives have recently been launched to increase public understanding of this issues, and to channel consumer demand towards greater company disclosure, leading, ultimately, to a minimum, common transparency standard.
Among the schemes are #whomademyclothes by Fashion Revolution and the Transparency Pledge initiated by the Clean Clothes Campaign, Human Rights Watch and the International Labour Rights Forum.
Following the Brussels event, UNECE released a statement praising those involved in improving visibility and transparency, saying that traceability can help companies identify opportunities for efficient and sustainable resource management, health risks, environmental impacts and labour rights.
