FLA signs renewed RPP Working Group memorandum of understanding

During the OECD Forum on Due Diligence in the Garment and Footwear Sector last week, FLA’s President and CEO Jeff Vockrodt and other leaders from industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives signed the renewed Responsible Purchasing Practices (RPP) Working Group Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and welcomed four new partners.

At the same time, the RPP Working Group launched the new User Guide to the Purchasing Practices Human Rights Due Diligence (PP‑DD) Framework.

These two milestones signal a new phase of collaboration and impact. Since 2022, the RPP Working Group has worked to advance responsible purchasing practices across the garment industry, using the jointly created Common Framework on Responsible Purchasing Practices (CFRPP) as a shared reference point. Together, we have focused on promoting uptake of aligned frameworks, supporting companies in improving their purchasing practices, and influencing policy discussions that shape the future of responsible business conduct.

A Renewed Commitment to HRDD

The renewed MoU reaffirms our shared commitment to promoting Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) as defined by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance. Purchasing practices are a critical component of effective HRDD, and remain the central focus of our joint work.

Our goal is clear: to make the CFRPP and the PP‑DD Framework the recognized reference points for responsible purchasing in the garment and footwear sector and beyond. Through this alignment, we support companies in strengthening their purchasing practices and amplify a shared voice advocating for systemic improvements in supply chain working conditions. The RPP Resource Hub is publicly available for brands to use in their RPP journey.

Introducing the PP‑DD Framework User Guide

Alongside the MoU renewal, we are proud to publish the User Guide to the Purchasing Practices Human Rights Due Diligence Framework. The guide supports expert assessors, regulators, investors, multi‑stakeholder initiatives, certification bodies, researchers and others who are integrating the Framework into their assessment work.

The guide explains:

• what the PP‑DD Framework represents,
• how HRDD applies specifically to purchasing practices, and
• how different users can apply the Framework depending on their role—whether drafting legislation, conducting evaluations, informing investment decisions, or developing assessment methodologies.

Why the PP‑DD Framework Matters

The PP‑DD Framework provides a clear, comprehensive definition of how to apply meaningful HRDD on purchasing practices. Rather than prescribing a rigid checklist, it sets out the essential components of a complete system and describes what genuine implementation entails. This benchmark serves as a central reference point for regulators, assessors, investors, companies and other stakeholders.

Its authority comes from extensive multi‑stakeholder consultation. The Working Group engaged with brands, suppliers, trade unions, civil society organizations, industry bodies and certification organizations across the global garment and footwear sector. This process ensured the Framework reflects broad consensus and incorporates lessons from initiatives such as Better Buying, Fair Wear, ETI and the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices. The inclusion of voices directly affected by purchasing practices is what makes the Framework a credible and widely supported industry standard.

Importantly, the Framework describes good practice, not common practice. It sets an ambitious benchmark that responds to the systemic power imbalances and problematic purchasing practices that continue to shape the industry. By defining what responsible purchasing truly requires, it provides a roadmap for meaningful change.

Looking Ahead: Scaling Alignment and Impact

As we enter this new phase of collaboration, the RPP Working Group remains committed to strengthening industry alignment and scaling the use of shared frameworks. After more than four years of working together, we know that progress on responsible purchasing practices requires collective effort, consistent expectations, and a shared understanding of what good looks like.

We look forward to continued collaboration with brands, suppliers, investors, policymakers and all stakeholders working to ensure that purchasing practices support respect for human rights in global supply chains.