Textile value chains – An overview of activities and approaches of the UNEP Economy Division
The Economy Division of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is working on accelerating the shift towards sustainable consumption and production patterns, including through circularity, and sound chemicals management in different sectors, including the textile sector.
Ongoing and planned initiatives are focusing on chemicals management across their life cycle and on a value chain approach to the textile sector, as described in this resource.
The Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) focuses on sound
management of chemicals and highlights emerging policy issues. One of them is chemicals in
products. The SAICM Chemicals in Products (CiP) Programme – approved in 2015 – includes a set of
objectives and methodologies which facilitate stakeholders’ access to information on the chemical
content of manufactured products. It is being applied in the textile sector, in China, through the GEFfunded project: “Defining and Demonstrating Best Practices for Exchange of Information on Chemicals
in Textile Products”. The project aims to identify and demonstrate best practices and stakeholder roles
and responsibilities for chemicals information exchange in textile products.
Complementary to the project in China, a review of the textile supply
chain through a life cycle analysis has been conducted, under the
SWITCH-Asia Regional Policy support component of the European
Commission. Results from this study will enable a focus of eco-innovative
solutions in the most problematic stages of the lifecycle (plantation of
cotton and dyeing stages for cotton textile, and fibre production and
dyeing stages for polyester textiles).
Acknowledging the current lack of knowledge about chemicals used in
the production of and remaining in textile products, another proposal
will be re-submitted to GEF-7 entitled “Reducing releases of POPs, POP
candidates, and other chemicals of concern (CoCs) in the textiles
sector”, for implementation in
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Viet Nam. The proposal
recognises the undesirable effects leading to exposure of
humans and/or the environment to, and harmed by, Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs), POP candidates and other priority
Chemicals of Concern in relation to production, use and
disposal of textile products. It includes one component on the
identification of alternatives, one on the implementation of ecoinnovative strategies in the private sector, towards a non-toxic
sustainable and circular approach in the textile value chain,
and one component on compliance and support for countries
to meet Stockholm Convention reporting obligations.
management of chemicals and highlights emerging policy issues. One of them is chemicals in
products. The SAICM Chemicals in Products (CiP) Programme – approved in 2015 – includes a set of
objectives and methodologies which facilitate stakeholders’ access to information on the chemical
content of manufactured products. It is being applied in the textile sector, in China, through the GEFfunded project: “Defining and Demonstrating Best Practices for Exchange of Information on Chemicals
in Textile Products”. The project aims to identify and demonstrate best practices and stakeholder roles
and responsibilities for chemicals information exchange in textile products.
Complementary to the project in China, a review of the textile supply
chain through a life cycle analysis has been conducted, under the
SWITCH-Asia Regional Policy support component of the European
Commission. Results from this study will enable a focus of eco-innovative
solutions in the most problematic stages of the lifecycle (plantation of
cotton and dyeing stages for cotton textile, and fibre production and
dyeing stages for polyester textiles).
Acknowledging the current lack of knowledge about chemicals used in
the production of and remaining in textile products, another proposal
will be re-submitted to GEF-7 entitled “Reducing releases of POPs, POP
candidates, and other chemicals of concern (CoCs) in the textiles
sector”, for implementation in
Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Viet Nam. The proposal
recognises the undesirable effects leading to exposure of
humans and/or the environment to, and harmed by, Persistent
Organic Pollutants (POPs), POP candidates and other priority
Chemicals of Concern in relation to production, use and
disposal of textile products. It includes one component on the
identification of alternatives, one on the implementation of ecoinnovative strategies in the private sector, towards a non-toxic
sustainable and circular approach in the textile value chain,
and one component on compliance and support for countries
to meet Stockholm Convention reporting obligations.
In early 2019, UNEP convened an expert consultation workshop with representatives from the fashion
and textile industry, governments, international organisations, advocacy groups and fashion institutes,
to discuss and reach a common understanding on the textile value chain, its key impact drivers as
well as intervention strategies for a more sustainable and circular textile value chain. A report, which
will be published by end 2019 – beginning 2020, will capture the outcome of this consultation. The
UNEP Consumption and Production Unit continues to convene this community of experts for exchange
and collaboration.
and textile industry, governments, international organisations, advocacy groups and fashion institutes,
to discuss and reach a common understanding on the textile value chain, its key impact drivers as
well as intervention strategies for a more sustainable and circular textile value chain. A report, which
will be published by end 2019 – beginning 2020, will capture the outcome of this consultation. The
UNEP Consumption and Production Unit continues to convene this community of experts for exchange
and collaboration.
SDG 12 Targets
External source(s)
Supporting document(s)
Textiles Overview - UNEP - March 2022_0.pdf
English
Download
:
Value Chain Stage(s):
Extraction / Production of raw materials
Processing raw materials /product parts/components
Production / Manufacturing / Construction
Product/ Service Design and Planning
