Human rights due diligence among small- and medium-sized companies in the Danish fashion and textile industry

Purpose

Sustainability and responsible business conduct have for some time been called out as a key theme for the global fashion and textile industry. Covid-19 has brought a magnifying glass to the industry, revealing some of its shortcomings and has accelerated a closer scrutiny of the sector as well as increased requirements on sustainability and responsible business conduct. With this in mind, the Institute is collaborating with Dansk Mode & Textil (DM&T), the Danish industry association for fashion and textile companies, with the aim of improving its member companies’ capacity on human rights.

The difference we make

The Danish fashion and textile industry is mainly composed of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have limited capacity and competencies to exercise and document human rights due diligence. A recent draft study by the OECD lists some of the key challenges and key opportunities for SMEs in the garment and footwear industry. The project is informed by the study and explores the challenges relevant to SMEs in the Danish fashion and textile industry. Based on a needs assessment of DM&T member companies, desktop research and engagement with DM&T members, the Institute will develop easy-to-use tools and resources that support SMEs in their human rights due diligence efforts, while focusing specifically on gender-related human rights issues in the fashion and textile industry value chain, and on the correlation between ‘green transition’, sustainable development and human rights.

The project will also build on the Danish guideline to the OECD Guidelines on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Industry, launched in 2019 by the Danish NCP.

Read the guidance, "Getting it right - a human rights due diligence guide" (takes you to www.dmogt.dk where the pdf can be downloaded).

Partners

Dansk Mode og Textile (DM&T)

Project funding

Service contract