On October 9, Fair Wear will launch the HRDD Academy, an online platform designed to help garment and footwear brands implement human rights due diligence (HRDD) in line with the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CSDDD) and other global frameworks.
The HRDD Academy will provide essential tools and resources for brands to navigate new industry standards. As the only multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI) dedicated to HRDD in the garment and footwear sector, Fair Wear brings over 25 years of experience working with brands, factories, and workers. The platform is built to guide brands through the complexities of HRDD, following OECD standards.
Rachel Chuang of Ganni highlighted that Fair Wear has consistently played a key role in enhancing labor conditions. She noted that the HRDD Academy would further strengthen their understanding of human rights due diligence (HRDD) and enhance their efforts in due diligence practices.
Key features of the HRDD Academy include self-paced learning, expert guidance on topics such as living wages and gender equity, and tools like risk scoping to assist brands in managing their HRDD processes. The platform also offers networking opportunities for brands to collaborate and share best practices.
A pilot phase that ran from 2023 to March 2024 allowed Fair Wear members and industry stakeholders to shape the platform's design. Markus Reisegger-Huber of Loffler GmbH praised the platform’s user-friendly structure and logical design.
The HRDD Academy aims to equip brands with the skills and knowledge needed to meet evolving regulatory requirements while fostering responsible business practices.
