Fair Wear’s HRDD Academy aims to transform human rights due diligence in the garment and footwear industry. Credit: George Trumpeter/Shutterstock.

HRDD Academy was launched by European Parliament Member Lara Wolters and the Fair Wear director Alexander Kohnstamm at a virtual event, which attracted hundreds of professionals from the fashion and textile industries.  

The independent, non-profit organisation ran a pilot of the HRDD Academy with brands from its member base and other brands and stakeholders in the industry from 2023 to March 2024.  

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The HRDD Academy is designed to assist brands in navigating the complexities of implementing HRDD, particularly in line with the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CSDDD) and other relevant regulatory frameworks.  

It is designed to provide self-paced learning pathways to address specific industry needs and gaps in knowledge, expert guidance on topics such as living wages and gender equity, based on Fair Wear’s experience in garment supply chains. 

The online resource also offers action-oriented tools for risk assessment to help brands manage and execute their HRDD processes efficiently, and opportunities for brands to connect, collaborate, and take collective action toward improving their practices. 

Lara Wolters has been instrumental in advocating for the EU CSDDD. The directive mandates that large companies are responsible for identifying and addressing negative human rights impacts such as child labour and environmental harms such as pollution within their own operations, the operations of their subsidiaries, and across their supply chains. On 26 July 2027, the rules will start to apply to companies. 

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“The HRDD Academy offers brands the clarity they need to meet their human rights obligations. With the new legislation, we’re giving companies a clear path to follow, making it easier for them to align with ethical practices while staying competitive. The Academy is a vital tool in turning these ideals into practical, achievable outcomes,” Lara Wolters stated. 

The HRDD Academy is now accessible to all global garment and footwear brands seeking to join a network of companies dedicated to fostering positive change within their supply chains.  

Zalando ESG Stakeholder Engagement and Reporting head Christian Smith said: “The HRDD Academy equips brands with a comprehensive understanding of human rights due diligence. Fair Wear’s alignment with OECD standards gives our conversations with brand partners added credibility and confidence, making it easier to drive meaningful change in our supply chains.”  

In May, Fair Wear announced it would use fellow non-profit Social & Labor Convergence Program (SLCP) data to promote HRDD and eliminate audit duplication.