How to be NICE

The global fashion and textile industry is the world's third largest industry and one of the most polluting. There are many businesses that are already contributing greatly when it comes to sustainability, but especially SMEs need a tool that can improve their general knowledge. This must happen in a simple way and in collaboration with managers and designers, while also maintaining competitiveness in the long run in a market that increasingly focuses on ethical guidelines, a circular economy and sustainable business concepts.

The fundamental basis of "HOW TO BE NICE" is the current social and environmental challenges that the global fashion industry is facing. The questions that arise involve, for example, how companies should deal with child labour, harmful chemicals and employee wages. But the tool also addresses the conditions under which models work (during shows) and the impact of the design process on the environment and the climate (designers can control up to 80% of the environmental impact). All of these topics are illustrated by cases that show how other businesses have dealt with a specific area.

Once they have familiarised themselves with the various topics using the tool, companies subsequently have the option of creating their own guidelines, or a so-called code of conduct, and they immediately receive a document they can use for start a dialogue with suppliers about responsible supply chain management. It is simple and easy. This part of "HOW TO BE NICE" is the result of a collaboration between the Danish Fashion Institute, the United Nations (UN Global Compact) and the international fashion industry.

"HOW TO BE NICE" is part of NICE (Nordic Initiative, Clean and Ethical) - a project run by ten fashion associations from the five Nordic countries. The aim of NICE is to make the Nordic fashion industry a leader in advancing the sustainability agenda and to let the green transition be an engine for growth and innovation. NICE was co-established by the Danish Fashion Institute, which is where the initiative's secretariat is located.