The UNECE has launched a Community of Practice to enhance traceability and transparency in the garment and footwear industries. This initiative follows a three-year challenge from the EU and UN Member States to prove the viability of these practices in the sector.
The UNECE highlighted the success of over 20 pilot projects and 110 pledges from various organizations in nearly 30 countries, showcasing the positive impacts of tracing materials like cotton, leather, synthetics, cellulose, and wool from production to use and beyond.
The Sustainability Pledge initiative’s lessons learned from the past three years were discussed at the ‘Vision & Visibility: Scaling Transparency’ event in Triennale Milano. Over 200 partners gathered for open sessions and workshops. UNECE launched its Community of Practice to scale up best practices and sustainability solutions. At the event, UNECE also released the ‘Sustainability Pledge 3-years monitoring report,’ showing industry best practices for traceability and transparency. The report includes data analysis from 100 pledges, showcasing progress and impacts, as well as challenges faced.
The Sustainability Pledge is driving legislation in the clothing industry, promoting local production, and empowering consumers. The Community of Practice aims to accelerate traceability and transparency initiatives in apparel and footwear. The industry contributes to environmental degradation and poor working conditions, especially for vulnerable groups. Despite growing demand, the sector must lead in environmental and social transition to improve lives and achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
UNECE has collaborated with over 800 experts, policymakers, businesses, academia, and NGOs to create policy recommendations, guidelines, and standards to authenticate sustainability claims and improve transparency in the value chain. A free open-source framework has been developed and tested in pilot projects, utilizing blockchain and DNA traceability technologies. Information is stored in the blockchain at each manufacturing stage, enabling tracking and tracing of materials and products. The system also allows small producers to upload data using only a smartphone, enhancing traceability and transparency in the industry.
