The CUT-UP discussion series focuses on transparency in the supply chain

The event, held at the designxport Hamburg premises, highlighted a range of different aspects, in particular consumer responsibility, developments within the industry in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster (such as the formation of the Textile Alliance in Germany), and the importance of introducing young people to the issues of sustainability and ethics at an early age in order to encourage them to form their own judgements. A key focus of the discussion was the issues of responsibility and transparency within the supply chain. According to Mona Tiencken from the Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik, it is particularly important that responsibility be shared, meaning that all stakeholders in the value chain must be addressed. Socially and environmentally responsible behaviour must be adopted by cotton producers as well as by the commissioning companies.

The CUT-UP discussion series is a collaboration between Bridge&Tunnel, designxport, Frauke von Jaruntowski and the Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik. Over a two-year period running until the end of 2018, the series of events will discuss topics ranging from sustainability and fair trade to supply chain transparency, amongst others. The next event is scheduled for 18 July 2017 at the Hamburg-based label DFM (Dörte F. Meyer).

The Hamburger Stiftung für Wirtschaftsethik addresses ethical risks in the textile industry, amongst other things, through its project ‘Water Stewardship in the Clothing Industry’.