Use Case Ethiopia PPP Project

The participants of this project include 15 local Ethiopian textile manufacturers and 7 technical consultants. They aim to strengthen their chemical management knowledge and capabilities in their daily work through the adoption of a range of ZDHC solutions, guidelines and platforms. This will ensure that the manufacturers prepare themselves for the future demands of the textile industry, while also supporting technical consultants to become ZDHC Academy Accredited Training Providers in the region. In this regard, this project can be divided into 2 main components: Train-the-Trainers and Training the Factories. 

Since the beginning of 2021, the project team has been working with the ZDHC Academy Team and the Accredited Training Providers (Bluwin - Sustainable Textile Solution & TÜV Rheinland) to deliver training to technical consultants through ZDHC’s train-the-trainer programme. A series of soft skills and technical training were provided to ensure that the participating industry consultants have all the necessary skills and latest knowledge to deliver the training to the factories.   

Simultaneously, the factories have continued to work towards the Supplier to Zero Foundational Level. This has been achieved through self-assessment which assisted in identifying any gaps in the provided services.  Once these gaps were identified, the participating Ethiopian technical consultants provided training and on-site consultancy to support the manufacturers to close the gaps with the application of corrective actions.

“The ZDHC Chemical Management Training that was provided contained a lot of excellent, up-to-date information, which was easily understood by our factory trainees. The trainer also delivered it interactively and supported it with various real-life examples. All of which allows us to carry out our work easily and efficiently. Going forward, we will do our best to implement the CMS that was taught and get the factory’s management to pay more attention to the issues”, said Nigussie Bitew from the Bahirdar Textile Company. 

“Dow is committed to making [a] positive social, environmental and economic impact along the textile value chain in Ethiopia. Through our partnerships, we can improve chemical management processes in the country through education and implementation of best chemical practices”, said Maimuna Hussein, Customer manager Dow Industrial Solutions.

‘’Dow has high-level expertise in producing and selling value-added chemicals to the market and we are well aware of sustainability issues in [the] textile industry. With our project in Ethiopia, we support several elements in the value chain to enable the implementation of safer and sustainable chemistry practices to protect workers, consumers and [the] natural environment”, said  Zeynep Triches Sarimanoglu, Business Development Manager Dow Industrial Solutions EMEAI.

The project will continue with the ZDHC CMS TIG Training and the factory’s completion of the ZDHC Supplier to Zero Progressive Level.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation and leading business positions to achieve profitable growth. The Company's ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company, with a purpose to deliver a sustainable future for the world through our materials science expertise and collaboration with our partners. Dow's portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer care. Dow operates 106 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $39 billion in 2020. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.

About GIZ DeveloPPP

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a federal enterprise with worldwide operations. It supports the German Government in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education. GIZ assists people and societies in shaping their own future and improving their living conditions. www.giz.de/en  

develoPPP is a funding programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It is aimed at companies that want to invest sustainably in a developing or emerging country and expand their operational activities locally. A prerequisite for funding is a long-term business interest in the country and a sustainable development policy benefit for the local people.

With the two instruments develoPPP Classic and develoPPP Ventures, the programme offers tailor-made funding opportunities for already established companies as well as up-and-coming start-ups. develoPPP is implemented by two experienced partners in German development cooperation: DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. www.developpp.de/en

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About ZDHC

The ZDHC Foundation oversees the implementation of the Roadmap to Zero Programme and is a global multi-stakeholder initiative of more than 160 contributors within the fashion and footwear industry. Their mission is to enable brands and retailers in the textile, apparel, and footwear industries to implement sustainable chemical management best practice across the value chain. Through collaborative engagement, standard setting, and implementation, ZDHC aims to advance towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals.

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