The German-led Partnership for Sustainable Textiles (GPST) has been making headway on its promise to bring about social, ecological and economic improvements all along the textile supply chain. Since October the GPST has modified its approach, and its membership has grown to over 100. It includes practically all Germany’s major retailers and garment companies.

The GPST has, in fact, has a wide range of members intended to bring about social, ecological and economic improvements all along the textile supply chain. It wants 75 per cent of Germany’s textile market volume to join it by 2018.

It has drawn up standards for the whole raw material and textile and clothing production chain, especially in five areas: building safety; better industrial relations; achieving living wages; fiber production, especially for cotton; reducing harmful chemicals, initially, focusing on water contamination.

It also plans to develop production facility pools in major producer countries, especially Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Pakistan and Vietnam.

The initiative has managed substantial improvements to textile and clothing production facilities in countries accounting for over half the world’s apparel production and has support from a critical mass of garment buyers and pressure groups.

GPST’s formula is that of quiet government intervention and joint management by companies and non-profits.