The garment and footwear industry has one of the biggest environmental footprints and poses great risks for human health and society. At the same time, the complexity and opacity of the value chain makes it difficult to identify where such impacts occur and to devise necessary targeted actions. In the next decades, fast fashion trends, coupled with growing demand in emerging economies, are going to intensify the effects on the environment and human health of practices and processes, and on working conditions.
Key actors in the industry have identified traceability and transparency of the value chain as a priority to increase consumers’ trust, better manage resources and relations with business partners, combat counterweights and handle reputational risks, while supporting more responsible consumption and production patterns, circularity and inclusive progress, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12 and 8, of the United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development.
UNECE, with its United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and e-Business (UN/CEFACT), has engaged with industry stakeholders, looked at such challenges and opportunities, and recommends the launch of a framework initiative to accelerate action for a sustainable and circular garment and footwear industry, through transparency and traceability of value chains.
Download the publication (ECE/TRADE/449)