The multi-stakeholder initiative can assist brands in coordinating their requirements to identify and address harm in the upstream tiers of their supply chains.

YESS trains yarn and textile manufacturers to understand and implement risk-based due diligence activities, a press release from RSN, which strives to end human rights abuses and forced labour connected to raw materials found in everyday products, said.

Spinning and fabric mills are assessed by third-party auditors on their management systems and inventory controls to mitigate the risk of forced labour in their cotton supply chains against YESS standards. 

Recent legislation like the European Union’s (EU) Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) requires companies to cascade due diligence through multiple tiers of its suppliers.

While the list of YESS participating mills is publicly available, status and details of their assessment results and other related data points will only be available via the YESS portal to YESS members.

Membership is open to diverse stakeholders including community groups, civil society organisations, academics, industry associations, service providers, spinning and fabric mills, brands, retailers and others.

RSN has ambitious plans to grow the list of YESS participating mills globally. To accomplish this, RSN has partnered with audit management company Sumerra, which now manages audits and verifications around the world for initiatives such as the Social/Labour Convergence Programme (SLCP), Cascale (formerly Sustainable Apparel Coalition) and the Ethical Supplier Engagement Programme (ESEP).

“With the help of Sumerra, we can create a standardised and global approach to addressing forced labour throughout cotton supply chains. By having a public list of the mills proactively preventing and mitigating harm, brands can support their efforts and drive demand for cotton that is harvested responsibly,” said Patricia Jurewicz, RSN chief executive officer and creator of YESS.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)