The Fair Wear Foundation, a multi-stakeholder initiative focused on garment workers’ rights, has announced a significant partnership with the European Outdoor Group (EOG) [1], the association representing the European outdoor industry. This collaboration aims to drive long-term improvements in workers’ rights and enhance human rights due diligence across the outdoor apparel supply chain.
The partnership will leverage Fair Wear’s recently launched Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) Academy. This academy offers tailored learning modules, tools, and expert guidance to help outdoor brands improve their human rights practices. The HRDD Academy is designed to align with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) standards and prepare brands for new regulatory frameworks such as the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Victoria Lauer, HRDD Academy Coordinator at Fair Wear, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “By partnering with EOG, we aim to significantly expand the reach of our HRDD Academy and positively impact working conditions in the outdoor industry.”
Dr. Katy Stevens, Head of CSR & Sustainability at EOG, highlighted the importance of this collaboration: “This partnership is a crucial step forward for the outdoor industry in Europe. Our collaboration with Fair Wear helps us ensure our supply chains are both responsible and sustainable by placing workers’ rights at the heart of our industry values.”
Over the next year, Fair Wear and EOG will collaborate through in-person events and digital platforms to ensure the outdoor apparel industry leads in advancing workers’ rights. The partnership aims to drive meaningful progress toward a future where garment workers worldwide can fully realize their human rights and access safe, dignified, and fairly compensated employment.
This new partnership represents a strategic move to foster a more responsible and sustainable outdoor apparel industry. It showcases a unified commitment to elevating workers’ rights and improving industry standards.
