ZDHC Foundation’s updated Supplier to Zero V2 marks a major update to its flagship programme that helps factories track, improve, and showcase their chemical management performance.
ZDHC’s new version of Supplier to Zero V2 aims to reflect suppliers’ real-world progress in implementing the ZDHC Roadmap to Zero, its global initiative focused on eliminating harmful chemicals and driving safer, more transparent supply chains across the apparel and textile industry.
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ZDHC’s chief programme officer, Francesco Pianca, said the update was essential to keep pace with industry needs.
“The current version of Supplier to Zero has served the industry well, but it is no longer fit for the purpose of truly showcasing the progress and performance suppliers have achieved,” Pianca explained.
A global pilot is currently underway to refine the new framework and ensure its effectiveness in real factory settings.
Supplier to Zero V2 creates a more flexible and practical approach
Supplier to Zero V2 is designed to be more practical, relevant, and rewarding for suppliers at all levels of maturity. The new framework features sharper questions, clearer expectations, and results that more accurately reflect each facility’s actual performance.
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By GlobalDataPianca said the update recognises that “every supplier is different — in scale, capacity, and where they are on the journey.”
The programme introduces flexible assessment options that foster trust between brands and suppliers. Under the new approach, brands can rely on a supplier’s self-assessment or collaborate through a joint second-party evaluation. This allows brands to focus efforts on newer or less familiar suppliers while recognising those with a proven track record.
Pianca noted that Supplier to Zero V2 was “designed by suppliers who want to lead”, giving them a stronger platform to demonstrate excellence and help raise standards across the value chain.
The upgraded programme also rewards suppliers who extend responsible practices upstream, encouraging engagement with material and chemical partners to ensure best practices are applied early in the supply chain.
According to Pianca, this approach creates systemic change by spreading responsibility across all tiers – making progress measurable, visible, and continuous.
Looking ahead
The rollout of Supplier to Zero V2 is said to mark the start of what Pianca calls an evolving framework. Further updates are expected to enhance how supplier progress is tracked, verified, and communicated across the value chain.
She concluded: “For suppliers, that means a clearer journey and a stronger voice. For brands, it means better alignment and more credible insights. And for the industry, it means a united path toward safer chemistry — one built on trust, progress, and shared leadership.”
