Water stewardship: A resource for the textiles & apparel sector

From growing raw materials to dying and finishing clothes, the textiles and apparel sector relies heavily on water throughout its value chain. As water challenges grow around the world due to stresses such as population growth and climate change, the industry faces a wide range of water-related risks. What are these risks and how can the industry work to address them?

To help answer these questions and more, the Alliance for Water Stewardship has published ‘Water stewardship: A resource for the textiles and apparel industry’, which provides an overview of water risks facing the industry’s value chain and outlines a clear path for how brands can take water stewardship action. In recent years AWS has heard from our Members and the participants our Textiles & Apparel Working Group that a knowledge gap exists in understanding how water intersects with this industry and how to take action.

This report was developed in response to this feedback and with the generous support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. It consists of three parts:

PART ONE looks at a range of water risks and the connections between environmental, social and governance commitments already made by the textiles and apparel sector.

PART TWO gives a breakdown of the steps that brands can take towards effective water stewardship, going beyond water management and pollution control.

PART THREE explores opportunities, next steps and how AWS can support brands no matter where they are on their water stewardship journey.

The full report can be downloaded below.