Both companies made the announcements on Human Rights Day in a bid to place human rights considerations more centrally within due diligence requirements and business practices.
Fair Wear published its 2026–2030 strategy, describing how companies can integrate human rights and environmental due diligence into routine decision-making.
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The organisation, which has more than 25 years of experience in the garment, textile and footwear sectors, said reactive approaches to supply chain risks are not sufficient as risks are heightened by geopolitical tensions and extreme weather.
It said due diligence needs to be “informed and validated by affected stakeholders” and aligned with day-to-day business operations.
The strategy focuses on three areas within a risk-based and gender-responsive approach:
- Fair, balanced sourcing relationships between buyers and suppliers
- Meaningful consultation with workers and their representatives to identify what’s needed
- Access to remedy that addresses harm and supports broader corrective action.
Fair Wear executive director Annabel Meurs said: “The multistakeholder collaboration accelerates innovation and problem solving when it comes to human rights risks in supply chains. We have seen companies move from guessing what the risks are to understanding how to address the risks, because they receive crucial information on prevention and remediation from affected stakeholders.
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By GlobalData“Only then can companies prioritise on what is most needed and work towards real improvements for workers. The garment sector is advanced at facilitating these processes. In Fair Wear’s 2026-2030 strategy we focus on making Human Rights Due Diligence practical and impactful, and sharing this with other sectors.”
As part of introducing its strategic direction, Fair Wear convened a Symposium on Impactful Supply Chain Due Diligence in Practice, bringing together representatives of brands and suppliers, legal practitioners, worker representatives and civil society organisations. The event was attended by more than 160 participants.
CmiA, a sustainable cotton standard run by the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), also announced an updated standard that will take effect in 2026.
Under the new version, CmiA-verified cotton companies will be required to expand monitoring, reporting, and corrective action related to human rights and environmental protection. AbTF said this would provide fashion brands and textile companies using CmiA cotton with greater assurance for due diligence and sustainability reporting.
Human rights compliance in production regions will continue to be checked through independent verification at both field and ginnery levels, and the updated standard makes respect for human rights an integrated requirement.
Partner companies must also ensure training and other farm- and ginnery-level activities are inclusive and accessible.
Future training programmes will be designed to promote participation by women, young people and vulnerable groups and to take their needs into account.
In addition, cotton companies will be required to introduce monitoring and reporting systems to assess risks linked to human rights, production-related environmental damage and non-compliance with CmiA core indicators.
They will also engage with relevant groups such as farmers, workers, NGOs and village communities.
AbTF standards and outreach head Alexandra Perschau said: “We are pleased to be launching this upgrade after intensive and productive consultations, especially with our partners in the growing areas, and are convinced that the revised Cotton made in Africa Standard will provide valuable support for fashion brands and textile companies in meeting their reporting obligations.”
