Whether the insight “I can because I want to” goes back to the ancient Roman poet Virgil or to his fellow countryman, the philosopher Seneca, is not certain. The fact is, we humans are capable of great things. The OECD proves – the challenges facing the clothing sector can well be solved with its development and coordination work, which encompasses the entire complexity:We can, because we want to.

600 representatives from governments, businesses, trade unions, civil society, academia, and international organizations presented and discussed at the OECD Forum what to date is at stake for due diligence practice in the sector. Some 1.300 attended online at this year’s Forum, focusing overall on emerging expectations and regulations, and the key opportunities and challenges businesses, stakeholders and policy makers can address together. On day 1 influential voices from key corporate and industry bodies including IndustriAll Global Union, Sapphire Textile Mills, World Benchmarking Alliance, the EU Commission, and the Government of Bangladesh took part in panel discussions on purchasing practices, responsible disengagement and effective monitoring and validation of due diligence.

Day 2 discussions had been dedicated on stakeholder engagement, the role of sustainability initiatives, measuring due diligence and its impacts, working with new supply chain partners as companies adopt more circular practices, and more. Speakers included representatives from H&M, Bestseller, SanMar, Scavi Group, and the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union.

A veritable cornucopia of facts, insights and options on effective monitoring, partly already proven ESG compliant purchasing practices and validation of due diligence around all relevant topics and aspects for due diligence in the garment as well as the footwear sector was provided, analyzed and discussed over the two forum days.

Stay informed and inspired

For an overview on everything addressed by the OECD and all stakeholders on board so far and into the future please hit: The Agenda / The Speakers.

• Furthermore we recommend to interested subscribers of textile network leverage from recent work results on how to monitor and evaluate framework for the garment and footwear sector – for download & evaluation on: Measuring the Uptake and Impact of Due Diligence for Responsible Supply Chains. A report, prepared by Nicholas Robin, OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, and a team of international contributors, providing essential insights to manufacturers, brands, wholesalers and vertical retail on how to implement in particular for ESG compliant purchasing practices – also per explicit legal regulations.becoming pre-requisite to export into relevant markets. Just adopted Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) for public procurement as just one example.

• Thought-provoking and informative for availability also the typology framework elaborated by ITC (International Trade Center) and IAF (International Apparel Federation, published already in October last year under the headline Understanding Sustainability Initiatives.

• A separate OECD meeting was held on the IAF Report setting a contemporary benchmark for the association's global work: Under the Banyan Tree: Buyers and Suppliers in Fashion by General Secretary Matthijs Crietee along with contributor and partner Brad Ballentine CEO of US MAS ACME, the delivery solutions hub by North American major player MAS Holding, with its deeply holistic entrepreneurial mission (for your full update click here.)

Predicate highly-valuable: The side sessions

The Forum as such also playing a role in supporting alignment across all kind of various stakeholders in addition offered a huge variety of virtual side sessions on February 10, 13 and 14.

With the 2025 Forum on Due Diligence and everything the annual summit sets in motion once again, the OECD demonstrates the power of collaboration and alliances to bridge regional barriers in apparel and textile – to unite voices and value. More important than ever than ever in times of increasing geopolitical driven protectionism to assure a profitable, value-compliant responsible future for the apparel & textile sector.