International expansion
and upscaling

Real change will only be achieved if the Agreement is emulated internationally and companies around the world shoulder their responsibility for human rights, animal welfare, and the environment.

The Dutch garment and textile market makes up only 1 per cent of the world market. Real change will only be achieved if the Agreement is emulated internationally and companies around the world shoulder their responsibility for human rights, animal welfare, and the environment.


For this reason, the signatories to the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textile are making efforts to raise the profile of the Agreement in the European Union. For big, multinational garment brands, it is of crucial importance for there to be a single, uniform approach at the European level, so that they do not have to sign up separately in each country.



Cooperation with a German initiative

The Dutch Agreement has found a German ally. In January 2018, the cooperation agreement with the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles was signed. Both initiatives want to support companies in conducting due diligence and setting up joint projects, as well as exerting greater influence together. Companies that have signed up to the Dutch Agreement can join the German Partnership under straightforward conditions, and vice versa.


Exerting influence together 

Where possible, the Agreement exerts its influence to bring change to the sector. One example is the letter sent in November to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh. In the letter, the parties to the Agreement, together with a large number of multi-stakeholder initiatives, called on the Prime Minister not to end the Bangladesh Accord before the government has sufficient capacity to carry out inspections of factories and other companies itself. This is necessary so as not to risk frustrating the progress of safety in Bangladesh’s garment industry. The Agreement had previously sent a letter to Bangladesh in July to voice encouragement for an increase in the minimum wage for garment workers.


Support in the Netherlands

In 2018, the Agreement organised a number of working visits for members of the House of Representatives and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation. Among other things, the members of the House of Representatives visited HEMA to learn more about agreements in the area of IRBC. Kings of Indigo and WE Fashion were also present during the visit. Minister Sigrid Kaag made a visit to Zeeman to see how this party to the Agreement works on sustainability.

Cooperation and alignment

‘As a national initiative, we have been striving for cooperation and alignment with other initiatives, to achieve impact, minimise double work and be attractive to members. Our cooperation with the Dutch Agreement for Sustainable Garments and Textile evolved a great deal in 2018. We exchanged tools, organised joint workshops and events, achieved alignment across a variety of topics, and welcomed the first joint memberships of companies. We aspire to go further in 2019, making our cooperation a cornerstone for sustainable and responsible business conduct in Europe.’


Juergen Janssen, coordinator Bündnis für nachhaltige Textilien [Partnership for Sustainable Textiles]


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