D-3. ECHT workshop series: Capacity building for chemical traceability in textile value chains
Section outline
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In the light of quickly changing regulatory requirements, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the textile apparel value chain face the challenge of ensuring the traceability of chemicals in products with regard to their suppliers and customers. This makes it all the more important to initiate capacity building among SMEs to enable them to deal with the challenges appropriately, while exploiting their specific strengths.
To support those actors, a workshop series was organised in the framework of Interreg ECHT project to offer a unique opportunity for all actors in the textile apparel value chain to build their capacity regarding chemical traceability. Stakeholders from the textile value chains (e.g. producers of fabrics and dyes, brands, retailers, recyclers) will receive input from academia, NGOS and industry, illustrating conceptual knowledge and best practice examples, both from the textile and other sectors. In several co-creative working sessions, participants generated insights and knowledge on how to overcome barriers to traceability. -
In the first workshop, participants will receive comprehensive input from academia, industry and NGOs on the long-term goals of traceability, the regulatory landscape, business models and incentives for chemical traceability and much more. Participants will also be introduced to outputs from the ECHT project, such as the Knowledge Platform, a future online tool with information material, tutorials and other resources for continuous learning about traceability. In the second half, participants will engage in co-creative sessions to gain a better understanding and insights regarding potential challenges, open questions and best practices.
Watch the replay of the key talks and discover the traceability canvas tool!
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Scheduled for May 15th 2025
The second workshop will be held online and focused particularly on case studies and best practice examples from industry actors in the textile value chains and other sectors. Participants will learn about strategies, challenges and business opportunities in the context of chemicals traceability. At the end of the event, a business-speed-dating will allow participants to expand their network and deepen contacts.
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Scheduled for June 18th 2025
The third workshop will draw on the insights generated in the first two workshops and allow participants to experience the challenges and strategies of implementing traceability first-hand. In a simulation game, they will take on the role of a stakeholder in the textile value chain and play out strategies, negotiations and business cases for traceability. The insights and knowledge gained from this game will be collected and shared at the end of the workshop series.