FAQ

All members from sectors A to F in accordance with the statutes. While private companies (based in Switzerland or elsewhere) that develop, manufacture, purchase, or trade in textiles (see sectors A and B) play an active role in implementing the targets in the value chains, actors from sectors C to F tend to act more in a supporting role. Sie sind dafür verantwortlich, dass Lösungen zur Erreichung der Ziele erarbeitet werden und den Unternehmen im textilen Handel zur Verfügung gestellt werden können.

By signing up, members confirm that they will take measures to ensure that the following targets are met:

1. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Promotion of fair wages and humane working conditions for all.
3. Promotion of innovative business models toward a circular economy.
4. Transparency to ensure that sustainable purchasing decisions can be made.

The detailed targets and milestones for companies in sectors A and B that must be met can be found on the Targets page.

• Synergies through uniform targets for all market players
• Support in the implementation of measures to achieve the objectives
• Support in the implementation of measures to achieve the objectives
• Demand promotion for sustainable textiles (B2B/B2C)
• Measurability of targets for own communication activities
• Taking a pioneering role and assuming personal responsibility
• Taking a pioneering role and assuming personal responsibility

In the year the association was founded and for the year 2026, the annual membership fee (excluding VAT) is as follows:

• Sector A*: Private companies with or without headquarters in Switzerland that develop, manufacture, purchase or trade in textiles: turnover-based amount (between CHF 1 500 and 10 000)
• Sector B: (Semi-)public procurement agencies that purchase textiles: CHF 450
• Sector C: Economic and industry associations and initiatives: CHF 1 000
• Sector D**: Public sector: CHF 1 000
• Sector E**: Non-profit organisations, including consumer, labelling and standard-setting organisations: CHF 1 000
• Sector F**: Research institutes, applied science institutions and consulting firms: CHF 1 000

*Members from Sector A who are already members of the amfori, Swiss Fair Trade or Swiss Textiles associations pay a fee of CHF 450 excluding VAT per year.

** The membership fee may be adjusted in the event of financial participation in projects run by Sustainable Textiles Switzerland

STS’s targets are ambitious and can only be achieved through the cooperation of all actors. To this end, STS provides an important platform for the exchange of experiences and solutions.

Actors from sectors A and B are surveyed annually to measure progress in implementation. Progress is specifically supported and strengthened on the basis of improvement plans drawn up by the companies and targeted support from the STS office.

All members commit to promoting sustainability as a whole. All four STS targets are central to this. Members from sectors B to F have specific areas of specialization in their role as supporters. Members from sectors A to B commit to holistic sustainability management in their value chains and thus address all targets.

Retail companies with a private label have the option of committing only to their own brand. When communicating the commitment, however, this must be clearly visible to consumers at all times. In the longer term, however, strategic sustainability priorities must also be targeted for the purchased brands and these must be communicated in the sustainability strategy.

Yes. If a public procurement organisation can prove that long-term partnerships are not possible, the target can be adjusted.

Controlling the entire supply chain is a development process that will be supported over the next few years by the current developments in digital tools and data record standards. Initially, it may be sufficient to work with standards for ‘tier 1’ and then work from ‘tier 1’ further into the supply chain on a risk-based basis.

STS has compiled clear targets and measures in its roadmap and is attempting to drive change forward in this way. We are convinced that this can also come from the industry and not just from politics.

The members are committed to achieving the targets and measures set by STS and are working to implement them. The timeframes for achieving the measures are listed transparently in the roadmap.

For external communication, we issue guidelines to the committed actors and monitor their implementation. For example, the STS logo may never be used on products of members.